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Patents versus ex post rewards : A new look

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  • Julien Pénin

    (BETA - Bureau d'Économie Théorique et Appliquée - INRA - Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique - UNISTRA - Université de Strasbourg - UL - Université de Lorraine - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, UQAM - Université du Québec à Montréal = University of Québec in Montréal)

Abstract

Economic studies that aim at comparing the patent system social efficiency versus an ex post reward system rest on an outdated view of patents. They assume that firms use the patent system only in order to be granted a short-term commercial monopoly rent. This assumption is convenient because it allows straightforward comparisons between patents and rewards but it is not confirmed by empirical studies, which stress that in many industries most firms use patents as strategic devices to trade technologies and to ease R&D collaborations. This change leads to rethinking the framework of the patent–reward debate.

Suggested Citation

  • Julien Pénin, 2005. "Patents versus ex post rewards : A new look," Post-Print hal-00279155, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-00279155
    DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2005.02.005
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    JEL classification:

    • D60 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - General
    • H00 - Public Economics - - General - - - General
    • L00 - Industrial Organization - - General - - - General

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