Dean of Arts and Sciences Adam Jaffe spoke about his new book on the problems facing the U.S. patent system before a crowd of around 40 as part of the University's "Meet the Author" series in the Shapiro Atrium Monday.The book, titled Innovation and Its Discontents: How Our Broken Patent System Is Endangering Innovation and Progress, and What to Do About It, was co-authored by Harvard Business School professor Josh Lerner

Jaffe, also the Fred C. Hecht Professor in economics, said his book also explores the government's favorable treatment of patent owners. He said patented ideas are protected by U.S. law, preventing other companies from using and improving upon patented designs.

Economists consider patents a way to protect a creator's product from being used by others, Jaffe said, adding that the government has favored policies that attempt to reward the inventor. While 50,000 patents were issued annually in the early 1980s, he said the number has since increased to over 200,000 a year.

Jaffe said laws passed in the late 1980s and early 1990s made patents easier for inventors to obtain. He said the number of lawsuits involving patents and companies using similar designs significantly increased since these laws were enacted.

The dean discussed the flaws in the U.S. Patent Office, which confirm products as "novel" and "non-obvious." Jaffe concluded by stressing the need for change within the patent system to improve upon the quality of products.

In his position as the University's chief academic dean, Jaffe has garnered strong criticism and pockets of praise from members of the community after releasing a controversial report in November calling for the elimination or reduction of programs within the University to pave the way for expansion and growth. Jaffe's rescinded most all of his contentious recommendations at a faculty meeting on March 3.