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Optimal licensing under incomplete information: the case of the inside patent holder

Author

Listed:
  • Cuihong Fan

    (Shanghai University of Finance and Economics)

  • Byoung Heon Jun

    (Korea University)

  • Elmar G. Wolfstetter

    (Korea University
    Humboldt University at Berlin)

Abstract

We reconsider the inside patent holders’ optimal licensing problem of non-drastic and (super-) drastic innovations under incomplete information, taking into account restrictions concerning royalty rates and the use of exclusive licenses implied by antitrust rules. We employ methods developed in the analysis of license auctions with downstream interaction and optimal control theory. Our analysis differs from the literature which assumed particular patterns of cost reductions across firms induced by the innovation and either complete information or particular probability distributions.

Suggested Citation

  • Cuihong Fan & Byoung Heon Jun & Elmar G. Wolfstetter, 2018. "Optimal licensing under incomplete information: the case of the inside patent holder," Economic Theory, Springer;Society for the Advancement of Economic Theory (SAET), vol. 66(4), pages 979-1005, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:joecth:v:66:y:2018:i:4:d:10.1007_s00199-017-1077-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s00199-017-1077-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Manel Antelo & Lluís Bru, 2022. "Per-unit versus ad-valorem royalty licensing in a Stackelberg market," Economia e Politica Industriale: Journal of Industrial and Business Economics, Springer;Associazione Amici di Economia e Politica Industriale, vol. 49(1), pages 95-109, March.
    2. Badia, Bruno D. & Tauman, Yair & Tumendemberel, Biligbaatar, 2020. "On the diffusion of competing innovations," Mathematical Social Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 8-13.
    3. Cheng-Tai Wu & Cheng-Hau Peng & Tsung-Sheng Tsai, 2021. "Signaling in Technology Licensing with a Downstream Oligopoly," Review of Industrial Organization, Springer;The Industrial Organization Society, vol. 58(4), pages 531-559, June.
    4. Fan, Cuihong & Jun, Byoung Heon & Wolfstetter, Elmar G., 2018. "Optimal licensing of technology in the face of (asymmetric) competition," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 32-53.
    5. Manel Antelo & Antonio Sampayo, 2024. "Licensing of a new technology by an outside and uninformed licensor," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 142(2), pages 111-162, July.
    6. Fan, Cuihong & Jun, Byoung Heon & Wolfstetter, Elmar G., 2018. "Per unit vs. ad valorem royalty licensing," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 71-75.
    7. Wang, Wei & Lyu, Gaoyan & Cui, Wei & Li, Yongjian, 2021. "Strategic technology commercialization in the supply chain under network effects," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Innovation; Licensing; Optimal contracts; Asymmetric information;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D21 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Theory
    • D43 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Oligopoly and Other Forms of Market Imperfection
    • D45 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Rationing; Licensing
    • L24 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Contracting Out; Joint Ventures

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