Do European computer-related patents increase welfare?

Development and Comp Systems from EconWPA

Abstract: When the home country introduces a patent law after the winner of the patent race is known the country's welfare may rise only if the domestic firm wins. If the home country decides before the patent race ends, the welfare may be increased when the probability that the domestic firm wins is sufficiently large. In both cases, the conditions on the product market determine the welfare gain and one may at least doubt whether those conditions are satisfied.

Keywords: Patents; competition policy; intellectual property rights (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O34 O38 L52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-eec, nep-ino and nep-tid
Date: Written 2004-02-18
Note: Type of Document - pdf; prepared on Linux; to print on Laser;

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