Technology licensing with asymmetric absorptive capacity

Abstract

This paper establishes a duopoly model to investigate the impacts of asymmetric absorptive capacity and asymmetric production cost on international technology licensing by an outside patent-holder. We find that, irrespective of fixed fee and royalty licensing, the patent-holder may adopt exclusively licensing if the difference in the absorptive capacity of two firms is large enough; otherwise, it will license to both firms. Surprisingly, such international licensing may be welfare-reducing if the difference in absorptive capacities between two licensees is large enough.