Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent, is the god of wind and learning, patron of learning and knowledge and related to the gods of arts and crafts. He was first revered in Teotihuacan, just outside modern Mexico City. In modern societies incentives for knowledge creation are frequently dependent on protection and enforcement of IP rights (Patents, Trademarks, Copyright, Designs ..). This brings us to the 2017 IP Statistics for Decision Makers conference, which took place last week in Mexico City – coincidence?

This conference brought together patent office representatives working on data (usually big), patent office economists, economists, lawyers and anyone else interested in IP statistics. The event was organised jointly by the three North American IP offices and OECD. The program included a broad range of topics – from the birth of the patent system in Venice (just before Cortez got to Mexico) to its optimisation. But one theme…