The patents box : approved and implemented in the Netherlands

On 25 January 2007, the Dutch Minister of Finance announced that the Patents Box had been implemented by Royal Decree, with retroactive effect to 1 January 2007. This article considers the potential implications that the Patents Box will have on the economy, as well as the criteria for applying the Patents Box itself and related considerations. The income which qualifies for Patents Box treatment and how the Patents Box might be improved for the future will also be discussed, along with initiatives similar to the Patents Box in other jurisdictions.