Competition Policy and Intellectual Property: Insights from Developed Country Experience

F. M. Scherer and Jayashree Watal
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F. M. Scherer: Harvard University
Jayashree Watal: World Trade Organization

Working Paper Series from Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government

Abstract: This paper, written for a World Trade Organization compendium, investigates the possibilities open to developing nations for controlling the abuse of intellectual property rights, and in particular patents, under Articles 31 and 40 of the Uruguay Round TRIPS (trade-related aspects of intellectual property) treaty. Article 40 authorizes nations to use their competition policy laws to combat abuses of intellectual property rights, among other things, by invoking the compulsory licensing provisions of Article 31. This paper reviews historically the experience of competition policy authorities in dealing with patent and other intellectual property abuses in the United States, the European Community, Japan, Canada, South Africa, and other jurisdictions and reviews the known consequences of compulsory licensing orders inter alia for companies' continuing efforts to advance technology. Currently controversial fields such as pharmaceuticals and information technology are accorded special attention.

Date: 2014-02
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-acc, nep-com, nep-ino, nep-ipr, nep-pr~ and nep-law
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ecl:harjfk:rwp14-013

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