In liability lawsuits (e.g. patent infringement) a plaintiff demands compensation from a defendant and the parties often negotiate a settlement to avoid a costly trial. Liability insurance creates bargaining leverage for the defendant in this settlement negotiation. We study the characteristics...

We analyze technology investment and adoption by a product developer who faces uncertainty over whether any existing patent covers a new technology. If there is a patent, the (non-producing) patentee may choose to “lurk”—i.e., to strategically delay enforcement—hoping that the developer...