Patent Strategies in the New Space Economy

Industries have been constantly changing under the pressure of competitive forces, and recently the space sector has been undergoing a major transformation in terms of its composition, funding sources, modes of innovation, and competitive landscape. The era of few large companies detaining the monopoly in knowledge and innovation is also ending, and innovation is increasingly developed across a myriad of legacy and more recently founded “New Space” companies. As a result, patent strategies are evolving from purely defensive measures, managed by legal teams, to vital tools for innovation and collaboration, requiring oversight from executives. Through an in-depth analysis of patent data and case studies, this chapter shows that while New Space companies are patenting earlier, legacy firms are increasing their patenting activities and transitioning to more strategic approaches. As competition for knowledge-based assets intensifies, space companies must develop new skills to implement effective patent strategies.