1. A computer-implemented automated method for enabling a user to access and operate a predetermined predictive computer model to score or rate a selected patent or group of patents in accordance with user-defined patent metrics, comprising: selecting a patent or group of patents to be rated; obtaining by a computer system from a database for each selected patent or group of patents a substantial full-text computer accessible file of the written description and/or claims thereof; extracting from each said file certain patent metrics, either predetermined or as selected or directed by said user; inputting said patent metrics into said predictive computer model, said predictive computer model being operable to input said patent metrics and based thereon to calculate a corresponding output rating or probability that is generally predictive of a particular quality being present and/or an event occurring relative to the selected patent or group of patents, wherein said predictive computer model comprises a multiple regression model that correlates multiple individual predictor variables comprising said extracted patent metrics to one or more desired criterion variables comprising the corresponding output rating or probability; and generating by the computer system a patent rating report for said selected patent or group of patents, said patent rating report including basic information identifying said selected patent or group of patents and said corresponding output rating or probability determined therefore; wherein said patent rating report contains at least one reported rating or ranking that is generally representative of the breadth (“B”) or likely infringement of the selected patent or group of patents, at least one reported rating or ranking that is generally representative of the defensibility (“D”) or likely validity of the selected patent or group of patents, and at least one reported rating or ranking that is generally representative of the commercial relevance (“R”) or technical merit of the selected patent or group of patents.