The number of patents has increased dramatically in the past three decades, as has the number of patent-related lawsuits, particularly in the field of software. Industry and academic experts have expressed concern that many of the patents being issued are of low quality. Writing in the Journal...

IN THEIR RESPONSE, AS IN THEIR PAPER, BYRNE AND THOMPSON elide the implausible assumptions that drive their model. Consider their statement: “Only a fraction of the population need view organ donation as costly for our results to hold.†Since I agree that survey evidence...

Greater payment induces greater supply. The reasons offered by Byrne and Thompson to doubt this proposition in the field of organ donation are unconvincing. Financial compensation for those who sign their organ donor cards would save lives.