We analyze the effects on consumers of an extreme policy experiment -- Napsterizing' pharmaceuticals -- whereby all patent rights on branded prescription drugs are eliminated for both existing and future prescription drugs without compensation to the patent holders. The question of whether this...

We analyze the effects of a hypothetical change from the status quo with patent protection on pharmaceuticals to a world in which all patent rights on both existing and future branded drugs would be eliminated. Our analysis takes into account stylized facts concerning the nature of competition...

We analyze the effects on consumers of an extreme policy experiment -- Napsterizing' pharmaceuticals -- whereby all patent rights on branded prescription drugs are eliminated for both existing and future prescription drugs without compensation to the patent holders. The question of whether this...