Das Pay-TV ist eine Angebotsform des Fernsehens, die Ökonomen a priori positiv betrachten, weil sie auf der Basis des üblichen marktwirtschaftlichen Preismechanismus funktioniert, das grundsätzlich das Angebot nach der Nachfrage und damit nach den Präferenzen der Zuschauer steuert. Die...

We investigate whether patents that are jointly held by legally independent companies help sustain product-market collusion. We use a simple model of repeated interactions to show that joint patents can serve collusive purposes. Our model generates two testable predictions: when joint patents...

The Constitution gives Congress the power to "promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts." The patent system embodies this power, but does it fulfill its essential purpose? This Note explores the scope of the exclusive rights of patents, arguing that in many circumstances the exclusive...

I argue that when a natural monopoly exists, the natural monopoly holder - whether an accused monopolist under antitrust law, or a copyright or patent owner under intellectual property law - should be subject only to a liability rule of compulsory licensing, no more and no less. While the...

This paper examines the application of the essential facilities doctrine (EFD) to copyrighted works. It attempts to address three contemporary issues. First, it offers reasons why copyright has become subject to competition law regulation under the essential facilities doctrine. Second, it makes...

The awarding of UMTS mobile licenses in France gave rise to a passionate debate as well as to a rather fluctuating history. A beauty contest with a predetermined price was preferred to an auction mechanism, as opposed to what was decided in most European countries, in particular United Kingdom...