Innovation, Competition Policies, and Intellectual Property

Abstract

AbstractThis chapter aims to contribute to a better understanding of the interactions among intellectual property (IP) issues, innovation, and development under a Schumpeterian perspective. It aims to build a more coherent framework within which the discussions of both institutional building and policy design towards development can proceed. After a brief introduction, section two attempts to link dynamic competition and innovation with IP issues from the angle of dynamic efficiencies and inefficiencies that are bound to show up. Section three introduces the concept of a market features approach conceived as a more suitable one to structure competition policies supporting innovation and a less restrictive IP regime. Section four articulates the previous ones by linking market features, IP with innovation, and the room for developmental strategies. Special attention is given to how competition policies should address IP issues under a market feature's approach, and to the institutional design of public agencies dealing with IP issues. The chapter concludes by summing up the policy and institutional implications raised before.