incentive to disclose theory
incentive-to-disclose theory. Patents. The economic theory justifying the grant of patent rights based on the social benefit of having the information enter the public domain. • Without the incentive, the argument goes, the technical advancements would remain trade secrets and the duplication of research efforts would be a waste to society. Cf. INCENTIVE-TO-COMMERCIALIZE THEORY; INCENTIVE-TO-DESIGN-AROUND THEORY; INCENTIVE-TO-INVENT THEORY.
