Intellectual property law and competition

• François LÉVÊQUE
  Law and economics professor, École des mines de Paris
  

Summary

According to economists, intellectual property shows faults which are getting worse. Until now, economists were sceptical about the positive effect of patents on innovation : empirical proof showing a correlation between an increase in R&D and the existence of patents has still not been formalised. Today, they maintain that the reinforcement of patent law suppresses innovation. Having once been an impulsive tool, intellectual property has now become an element of disorder, receiving royalties at the expense of consumers, blocking competitors, and so on. Some people have called on competition policy for help : could it not curb the excesses and deviations of intellectual property law ?

Summary translated from French by Rachel MARLIN.

• The entire article was written by Michel BERRY.

To obtain this article, you can :

• download it in French (PDF help) using your password or contact ecopar@paris.ensmp.fr (Reference RT110204).

The entire article appears in French in the Journal de l'École de Paris du management N° 51.