Exploring the Perception and Behavior of Software Engineers about Computer Software Patent

-Patent is one kind of the intellectual property, and the nature of patent institution is to accelerate the speed of innovation and invention. It is likely to the patent of computer software. But the opinion voiced by exponents of open source and free software is extremely opposed to patenting computer software. They are concerned the software patent acts as a barrier to technology improvement. This study employs a modified technological acceptance model (TAM) to explore the perception and behavior of software engineers, and examines the relationship between perception and management behavior about patent. The findings of this study are two-fold: 1. Most of the relations of this research model are positively significant, including knowledge of patent, dependency on patent, perceived usefulness of patent, perceived ease of use of patent, intention to use patent, and actual behavior of patent management; 2. The scales of firm and number of patents owned by firms have a significantly different effect from the above constructs, but the individual attributes of engineers are not significantly different from those constructs. Finally, this study provides two suggestions for future study: one is concerned with the willingness and capability of computer software inventors to codify invention; another concern the competency of absorbing the patent knowledge from computer software engineer. Based on these two aspects, researchers can achieve a deeper understanding of the knowledge innovation and technology diffusion. Key-words: -Patent, computer software, software engineer, technological acceptance model (TAM)