License Fees Research Articles

Closed-loop supply chain decision making considering product design strategy under patent protection

This paper combines product design and patent protection and construct a dynamic decision-making model consisting of a single original manufacturer and a single remanufacturer based on Stackelberg game. We study the impact of different product design strategies on remanufacturing decisions in the presence of patent protection and explore the influencing factors of the original manufacturer's product design level. The results show that: (1) the original manufacturer’s product design level is negatively correlated with the coefficient of R&D cost impact and the coefficient of remanufacturing cost, and positively correlated with the coefficient of consumer utility impact; (2) the unit patent licensing fee is positively correlated with the coefficient of R&D cost impact and negatively correlated with the coefficient of remanufacturing cost and the coefficient of consumer utility impact; (3) under different product design strategies, product design strategies that consider both eco-orientation and remanufacturing-orientation are most conducive to the stable development of the closed-loop supply chain.

Standard Essential Patents and Abuse of Dominance: Implications for India's Telecom Sector

The rapid advancement of technology has positioned Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) as a critical component of innovation in the telecommunications sector, particularly in India. SEPs are patents that cover inventions essential to industry standards, facilitating interoperability and ensuring effective communication between devices. However, the significant market power held by SEP holders raises important concerns regarding the potential abuse of dominance, especially when these entities impose excessive licensing fees or engage in discriminatory practices. This paper examines the intersection of SEPs and competition law in India, focusing on the legal challenges faced by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) in regulating SEP holders under the Competition Act, 2002. By analyzing the regulatory framework and its implications for market dynamics, this study highlights the necessity for a balanced approach that protects both intellectual property rights and competitive practices. The findings suggest that while existing legal mechanisms aim to address abuses of dominance, there is a pressing need for clearer guidelines and stronger enforcement to ensure that SEPs foster innovation without stifling competition in India's rapidly evolving telecom landscape.

Exploring small retailers’ perspectives on selling tobacco after the tripling of Tasmania’s tobacco licence fee

BackgroundLicensing of tobacco retailers, including high retail licence fees, is one tobacco control measure that may reduce tobacco retail availability. Between 2015 and 2018, the tobacco licence fee in Tasmania,...

Investment in the Ukrainian gambling market in wartime

This study is the first scientific study in Ukraine on the issue of investment attractiveness of the gambling market in conditions of full-scale war, in which the authors attempted to calculate and assess the costs and benefits that an investor can receive from investing in this type of activity. This study used the method of comparative analysis, the method of system analysis, the hermeneutic method, formal-logical (synthesis, analysis, deduction, analogy), economic analysis, absolute and comparative advantages and statistical methods. The authors analyzed the economic indicators of the market and concluded that despite the hostilities, the market shows a large and stable growth due to the online segment. At the same time, although more than 20 different licenses were issued, the market was divided among only five major players, which indicates the potential for new organizers to enter the market. The assessment of losses and benefits for the investor was carried out according to the following indicators: calculations of official costs for starting a business in Ukraine (license fees); assessment of the tax system of Ukraine regarding the gambling business from the point of view of the benefits of running such a business; assessment of the war risks of running a gambling business in Ukraine. The calculations showed that the high cost of licenses can be the main obstacle to entering the market for new investors, since in neighboring countries the entry price is much lower. The research conducted allowed us to conclude that today the only promising direction of investment can be the gambling business on the Internet. After the end of hostilities, we expect that the implementation of investment projects and obtaining free investment licenses will become attractive for investment, because today the potential of free investment licenses in Ukraine has not been used, not a single license has been issued, but there are no similar offers in other European markets. Promising areas of research remain the issues of the impact of gambling market taxation rates on market development, as well as on the fight against illegal gambling. A promising direction is the issue of researching the investment attractiveness of the Ukrainian lottery market and the possibilities of holding interstate lotteries in Ukraine.

Open-Source Solutions in Archival Institutions

Open-source solutions offer a cost-effective alternative for archival institutions facing budget constraints. The absence of licensing fees and the ability to modify and customize the software without vendor lock-in make open source particularly appealing. This financial flexibility allows institutions to allocate resources to other critical aspects of preservation and access. In the article the author presents various advantages and disadvantages of using open-source software.

Usury enforcement as an alternative to capital taxation in pre-modern states

AbstractAll governments have an obligation to protect their territory and the wealth within that territory from external predation. In fact, since war has historically resulted in the plunder and destruction of wealth, it seems straightforward to suggest that the cost of providing adequate defense of one’s territory is a function of the accumulated wealth within the territory. Suppose that all wealth in society is capital. The accumulation of capital conveys a private benefit to its owner, but imposes an external cost on society. As with any externality, the optimal tax policy would be to tax capital. The revenue from capital taxation could then be used to finance defense. Such a taxation scheme, however, requires the state has an appropriate level of bureaucratic capacity. During the Middle Ages and the early Renaissance, this sort of state infrastructure did not exist. Yet the rulers of those states faced the same constraint. In this paper, I argue that the enforcement of usury laws during this period replicate the outcome of the optimal capital tax. Lending at interest was prohibited. However, rulers often allowed certain groups to lend in society in exchange for a license fee. This granted monopoly status to lenders. At the same time, rulers imposed binding price ceilings on interest rates. The combination of these three characteristics of enforcement replicate the long-run restriction on capital accumulation of the optimal capital tax and generate revenue that is possibly equivalent to the tax as well. I then model ruler behavior given these incentives. Finally, I use historical evidence from England, Italy, and France to support my argument.

Linkja: Open Source Privacy-Preserving Record Linkage Tool

ObjectiveTo introduce Linkja, an open-source, certified, Privacy-Preserving Record Linkage (PPRL) tool with the primary objective of facilitating secure and efficient record linkage across diverse datasets, while preserving individual privacy, providing a comprehensive and privacy-centric approach to program assessments. ApproachLinkja has been used to evaluate Chicago’s Flexible Housing Pool program by securely linking various datasets, including Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS), Electronic Health Records, Jail records, Medical Examiner reports, and Public Health data. Data contributors used separate honest brokers for record linkage, and generation of salt and cryptography keys. ResultsLinkja enabled this multi-sector linkage by facilitating legal and data sharing agreements, avoided licensing fees and procurement processes for all parties, and provided a de-identified for analysis. The insights gleaned from the analysis motivated the FHP program to plan a follow-up evaluation that will add emergency serviced records from a separate City of Chicago department. The successful linkage provided a nuanced understanding of the association between stable housing and reduced healthcare utilization. ConclusionsLinkja's cryptographic certification ensures the highest standards of security during data linkage, safeguarding sensitive information. The matching rules, validated on hard-to-match populations, prove essential in maintaining accuracy and reliability in the linkage process. ImplicationsThe open-source nature of Linkja promotes transparency and collaboration in the development and enhancement of privacy-preserving record linkage techniques. This tool has broad implications for sectors dealing with sensitive data, fostering responsible data-sharing practices, and enabling secure collaborative research initiatives without compromising individual privacy.

Cas-CLOVER-mediated knockout of STAT1: A novel approach to engineer packaging HEK-293 cell lines used for rAAV production.

In addressing the limitations of CRISPR-Cas9, including off-target effects and high licensing fees for commercial use, Cas-CLOVER, a dimeric gene editing tool activated by two guide RNAs, was recently developed. This study focused on implementing and evaluating Cas-CLOVER in HEK-293 cells used for recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) production by targeting the signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) locus, which is crucial for cell growth regulation and might influence rAAV production yields. Cas-CLOVER demonstrated impressive efficiency in gene editing, achieving over 90% knockout (KO) success. Thirteen selected HEK-293 STAT1 KO sub-clones were subjected to extensive analytical characterization to assess their genomic stability, crucial for maintaining cell integrity and functionality. Additionally, rAAV9 productivity, Rep protein pattern profile, and potency, among others, were assessed. Clones showed significant variation in capsid and vector genome titers, with capsid titer reductions ranging from 15% to 98% and vector genome titers from 16% to 55%. Interestingly, the Cas-CLOVER-mediated STAT1 KO bulk cell population showed a better ratio of full to empty capsids. Our study also established a comprehensive analytical workflow to detect and evaluate the gene KOs generated by this innovative tool, providing a solid groundwork for future research in precise gene editing technologies.

Gravity for cross‐border licensing and the impact of deep trade agreements: Theory and evidence

AbstractWe examine whether deep regional trade agreements facilitate cross‐border licensing. A micro‐founded gravity equation for each supply mode is derived from a model in which heterogeneous firms choose to supply their goods to foreign markets through export, foreign direct investment or licensing. We present several comparative statics results regarding the effects of changes in the fixed costs of serving the destination country, the freeness of trade, and the strength of intellectual property rights protection on bilateral flows of licensing revenues. We then empirically test our theoretical predictions using data on the cross‐border flows of royalties and licence fees for 49 countries in the period 1995–2012. In addition to variables that capture the impact of shallow and deep regional trade agreements, we construct dummy variables that represent subcategories of IP rights‐related provisions. Consistent with our theoretical predictions, we find that improved access to the destination market through a deep regional trade agreement and stronger IP rights protection through a regional trade agreement with legally enforceable IP rights and technology‐related provisions increase bilateral flows of licensing revenues. Among IP rights‐related provisions, the accession to or ratification of existing international IP agreements and the protection of trademarks, patents, or industrial designs are important for facilitating cross‐border licensing.

Global policy scan of commercial combustible tobacco product retailing regulations by WHO region

Background/aimsRegulatory schemes for tobacco retailing help restrict the supply and availability of smoked tobacco products. Tobacco retailer density and the proximity of tobacco outlets to youth spaces, such as schools,...

Evaluating the demand for and price elasticity of state hunting licenses in the United States using panel data

ABSTRACT As wildlife management agencies have been struggling financially, there continues to be a greater need for revenue to sustain wildlife and cover their costs. With the sales of hunting licenses playing an important role in a state wildlife agency’s revenue, there has been a debate regarding whether to raise the license fee since a loss of revenue will result if the price elasticity of the hunting license is elastic. This study first used a panel dataset containing national surveys from 1996 to 2011 across the United States to explore this issue. A General Two-Stage Least Squares (G2SLS) model was employed to estimate the demand for residents’ hunting licenses, while an Ordinary Least Squares ;(OLS) model was applied to determine the demand for nonresidents’ hunting licenses. Price elasticities of −0.176 and −0.066 for resident and nonresident hunting licenses were obtained, respectively. The results supported the view that raising the hunting license fee would bring in more license sales revenue.

Revisiting the Scope of Section 35ABB of the Income Tax Act

The Supreme Court (SC), on 16 October 2023, observed that licence fees paid by telecom companies under the New Telecom Policy 1999 would be a capital expenditure under section 35ABB of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Quashing the judgments of high courts of Delhi, Bombay and Karnataka, the SC ruled that the nomenclature and mode of payment have no relevance as such payment relates to the licence fee, an integral part of the licence agreement to remain in the business. It ruled under the New Telecom Policy 1999 that there is no basis to reclassify the variable portion of the licence fee as revenue expenditure; instead, both fixed and variable fees are homogeneous and are capital expenditures. Moreover, a single transaction cannot be artificially bifurcated into capital and revenue components by mere consideration of payment mode, posing a challenge for the sector already confronting significant financial stress. However, the Telecommunication Act enacted in December 2023 attempts to address multiple challenges of the sector, but grey areas still need to be addressed, which could lead to future litigation. Against those backdrops, the study attempts to assess the impact of the ruling connecting with the New Act on the sector.

Initial Payment and Refunding Scheme for Climate Change Mitigation and Technological Development Among Heterogeneous Countries

Abstract We examine international environmental agreements (IEAs) in which heterogeneous countries work together to not only participate in the abatement of greenhouse gas emissions but also develop breakthrough technologies. In this paper, the country with the most advanced technology (i.e. the technological leader) develops a new abatement technology and distributes it to other countries (i.e. technological laggards) through licensing. We design a new mechanism to achieve cooperation among heterogeneous countries through an initial payment and refunding (IPR) scheme and licensing involving third-party organizations (TPOs). Under our new IPR scheme with licensing, the cost incurred by a technology leader in developing new technology is covered by licensing fees using a portion of the initial payments collected from technological laggards by a TPO. As a result, TPOs sustain IEAs by flexibly adjusting technological laggards’ share of costs for licensing, comprising initial payments and refunds, and the amount of the licensing payment made to the technological leader.

Strategic Agility and Performance of Pay Television Industry in Kenya.

The Pay TV market in Kenya operates in a highly competitive business environment, which in turn calls for aggressiveness and more efficient ways of keeping the business afloat. Advancement in technology also comes with several options for Pay TV customers such as online streaming which poses more threat to the market. This research seeks to assess the influence of strategic agility on the performance of the Kenyan Pay TV industry using Multichoice Kenya Limited as the case study. The objectives of this study were to establish the influence of leadership agility, determine the influence cultural agility, assess the influence of business agility, and to determine the influence of career agility on organizational performance in the Kenyan Pay TV industry. The study is of great significance to the government of Kenya since the improved performance of the Pay TV companies can generate more revenue for the government in form of taxes and license fees. New and existing Pay TV companies may also benefit from this study by employing agile strategies for competitive advantage as well as getting more information on how to handle uncertain situations in the business environment. Additionally, academicians who may want to research more on strategic agility may benefit by accessing more information from this study. The concept of strategic agility has not been sufficiently researched especially on the variables such as leadership agility, cultural agility, business agility, career agility and how they influence organizational performance. This research was anchored on four theories namely; The Great Man Theory, Theory of Change, Theory of Constraints, and the Broaden and Build Theory. The reviewed literature on these theories indicates that there is a positive influence of strategic agility on organizational performance. This is a cross-sectional study which involves 60 employees with managerial roles. Descriptive design was used in this study adopting qualitative and quantitative methods. Data collection was done through closed and open-ended questionnaires, keeping a register of questionnaire distribution and feedback collection. A pilot study was carried out to determine the accuracy, clarity and relevance of the study questionnaire. Data analysis was carried using SPSS (V29) and multiple regression analysis. The study found that leadership agility, cultural agility business agility and career agility all have a significant effect on the performance of Pay TV firms in Kenya. The top leadership of firms in Pay TV industry should establish cross-cultural collaboration initiatives to encourage knowledge-sharing and teamwork among employees from different cultural backgrounds, foster a culture that encourages and rewards agile leadership behaviors, such as risk-taking and experimentation and encourage leaders to seek mentorship and coaching to enhance their agility capabilities, should invest in technology and infrastructure that support flexibility and adaptability in responding to market changes and also develop cross-functional teams that can quickly adapt to changing business requirements and address emerging challenges, implement career development plans and pathways that align with the organization's strategic objectives and employees' career aspiration and encourage a growth mindset among employees.

Stakeholders' perception and willingness-to-pay for an aquaculture-based fisheries enhancement program for coastal cod in Southern Norway

The coastal cod fishery in Southern Norway has experienced a significant decline over the last decades. Recreational fishing for cod in the eastern part of the country is currently banned. Fisheries managers have adopted a variety of strategies to sustain the populations for resource users. Aquaculture-based fisheries enhancement has been considered as an alternative intervention to rebuild overexploited cod stock or to improve the opportunity for marine fishing. However, there has been a debate regarding its ecological and social effectiveness among stakeholders. In this paper, we conducted an online contingent valuation survey aiming to understand stakeholders' perceptions and attitude towards restocking of hatchery-produced juveniles as a potential restoration approach to rebuild depleted coastal cod populations and their willingness to pay for the implementation of such an enhancement program in southern Norway. Results indicate that the public has a positive perception to the potential restocking program. The average Willingness-To-Pay (WTP), e.g. fishing license fee, is approximately 175 NOK and 693 NOK if all of the respondents, and only counting those who are willing to, contribute. The introduction of a minimum fishing license fee of 175 NOK (approximately 17€) would cover the cost of production of over 20 million juvenile cod of appropriate size for release. Age of the respondents, the frequency of their fishing trips, and their perception of the decline of coastal cod were the main drivers for the WTP contribution while the amount of the WTP was strongly correlated to targeting particular species, educational level, and place of residence. Considering the critical situation of the coastal cod populations in southern Norway, together with the significant advances in cod rearing techniques, in fish tagging technology and the maturation of fisheries enhancement as science, and the positive stakeholders' perceptions and attitudes towards such an aquaculture-based enhancement program revealed from this study, it may be the time to re-evaluate the potential integration of a holistic cod restocking program within Norwegian coastal zone management.

Standard-essential patent legal protection in China’s telecommunication industry: an international trade and economy perspective

ABSTRACT Standard-essential patents (SEPs) are specific types of patents that protect the technology incorporated in a standard. China has one of the world’s largest telecommunication markets, and its legal policies and practices regarding SEP protection profoundly influence the competitive environment of the Chinese telecommunication market, international economic and trade cooperation, and global telecommunication technology innovation. Recently, frequent disputes in the communication sector surrounding SEPs in China’s judicial practice revolved around the fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) principles, embodying three key issues: patent hold-up, licence fee rates, and anti-suit injunction. Regarding the patent hold-up and hold-out of SEPs in the telecommunication industry, a balance of interests between SEP holders and implementers in licence negotiations should be achieved under the guidance of the principles of FRAND from the perspective of legislation, administrative management, and the judiciary. Concerning licence fee rates, billing benchmarks should be judged based on individual cases, utilizing a comprehensive approach combining comparable licence agreement methods and top-down methods to determine a fair and reasonable licencing fee acceptable to all parties. In the conflict between anti-suit and anti–anti-suit injunctions, improving the anti-suit injunction rules and international cooperation mechanisms is necessary to achieve fair and non-discriminatory judicial processes and judgment results.

Using a customer discovery process to enhance the potential dissemination and scalability of a family healthy weight program for rural communities and small towns

AimCustomer discovery, an entrepreneurial and iterative process to understand the context and needs of potential adoption agencies, may be an innovative strategy to improve broader dissemination of evidence-based interventions. This paper describes the customer discovery process for the Building Healthy Families (BHF) Online Training Resources and Program Package (BHF Resource Package) to support rural community adoption of an evidence-based, family healthy weight program.MethodsThe customer discovery process was completed as part of a SPeeding Research-tested INTerventions (SPRINT) training supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Customer discovery interviews (n=47) were conducted with people that could be potential resource users, economic buyers, and BHF adoption influencers to capture multiple contextual and needs-based factors related to adopting new evidence-based interventions. Qualitative analyses were completed in an iterative fashion as each interview was completed.ResultsThe BHF Resource Package was designed to be accessible to a variety of implementation organizations. However, due to different resources being available in different rural communities, customer discovery interviews suggested that focusing on rural health departments may be a consistent setting for intervention adoption. We found that local health departments prioritize childhood obesity but lacked the training and resources necessary to implement effective programming. Several intervention funding approaches were also identified including (1) program grants from local and national foundations, (2) healthcare community benefit initiatives, and (3) regional employer groups. Payment plans recommended in the customer discovery interviews included a mix of licensing and technical support fees for BHF delivery organizations, potential insurance reimbursement, and family fees based on ability to pay. Marketing a range of BHF non-weight related outcomes was also recommended during the customer discovery process to increase the likelihood of BHF scale-up and sustainability.ConclusionsEngaging in customer discovery provided practical directions for the potential adoption, implementation, and sustainability of the BHF Resource Package. However, the inconsistent finding that health departments are both the ideal implementation organization, but also see childhood obesity treatment as a clinical service, is concerning.

Academic Neuroradiology: 2023 Update on Turnaround Time, Financial Recruitment, and Retention Strategies.

The ASNR Neuroradiology Division Chief Working Group's 2023 survey, with responses from 62 division chiefs, provides insights into turnaround times, faculty recruitment, moonlighting opportunities, and academic funds. In emergency cases, 61% aim for a turnaround time of less than 45-60 minutes, with two-thirds meeting this expectation more than 75% of the time. For inpatient CT and MR imaging scans, 54% achieve a turnaround time of 4-8 hours, with three-quarters meeting this expectation at least 50% of the time. Outpatient scans have an expected turnaround time of 24-48 hours, which is met in 50% of cases. Faculty recruitment strategies included 35% offering sign-on bonuses, with a median of $30,000. Additionally, 23% provided bonuses to fellows during fellowship to retain them in the practice upon completion of their fellowship. Internal moonlighting opportunities for faculty were offered by 70% of divisions, with a median pay of $250 per hour. The median annual academic fund for a full-time neuroradiology faculty member was $6000, typically excluding license fees but including American College of Radiology and American Board of Radiology membership, leaving $4000 for professional expenses. This survey calls for further dialogue on adapting and innovating academic institutions to meet evolving needs in neuroradiology.

Situation of Offenses Observed in Maritime Fishing and Proposal for Measures to Improve the Surveillance System: Case of the National Fisheries Surveillance and Police Center (CNSP) in Guinea

Research work on the theme “Situation of offenses observed in maritime fishing and proposal for measures to improve the surveillance system: case of the National Fisheries Surveillance and Police Center (CNSP) in Guinea » Conakry took place in the period from September 14 to December 14, 2022 inclusive. The objective of this work was to take stock of the offenses recorded in fishing with a view to proposing solutions for improving the surveillance system. To achieve this objective, the following methodology was adopted: consultation of executives and exploitation of archives; survey of surveillance agents; identification and descriptions of the surveillance system; identification of the offenses and fleet involved in the Guinean EEZ in recent years; determination and classification of the causes of offenses; evaluation of the surveillance system; proposal for improved measures of the surveillance system. Monitoring of this approach revealed that: the offenses committed in the Guinean EEZ are related to the fishing gear used; administrative documents and fishing operation zones. According to records, for the period from 2006 to 2021, there were 308 boardings. The rate of infringements in IP is 59%, 25% in PAM and 16% in PSI. The flags which have committed more IP infringements are Chinese 86 and Korean 60; in PSI the Chinese 17 and the Senegalese 16 and in PAM the Guineans 33, Senegalese 23 and the Leonese 18. The stakeholder survey revealed that the number of vessels monitored by VMS in 2021 was 79 in PI and 49 in PSI. The main documents inspected at sea are generally: registration certificates, crew, rescue equipment, gross tonnage, coastal state fishing authorization, maritime radio license. The fleets involved in the infringements in the Guinean EEZ from 2006 to 2022 numbered 135 including 80 demersal trawlers, 7 cephalopod boats, 21 shrimp boats, 22 pelagic trawlers and 5 cargo ships. The improvement of the surveillance system in Guinea may be more efficient, incombining the AIS and VMS system in fisheries surveillance, by creating a marking system for fishing gear, by purchasing very powerful launches and maintaining the confidentiality of patrol operations.

TMM−Sim: A versatile tool for optical simulation of thin−film solar cells

The Transfer Matrix Method (TMM) has become a prominent tool for the optical simulation of thin−film solar cells, particularly among researchers specializing in organic semiconductors and perovskite materials. As the commercial viability of these solar cells continues to advance, driven by rapid developments in materials and production processes, the importance of optical simulation has grown significantly. By leveraging optical simulation, researchers can gain profound insights into photovoltaic phenomena, empowering the implementation of device optimization strategies to achieve enhanced performance. However, existing TMM−based packages exhibit limitations, such as requiring programming expertise, licensing fees, or lack of support for bilayer device simulation. In response to these gaps and challenges, we present the TMM Simulator (TMM−Sim), an intuitive and user−friendly tool to calculate essential photovoltaic parameters, including the optical electric field profile, exciton generation profile, fraction of light absorbed per layer, photocurrent, external quantum efficiency, internal quantum efficiency, and parasitic losses. An additional advantage of TMM−Sim lies in its capacity to generate outcomes suitable as input parameters for electro−optical device simulations. In this work, we offer a comprehensive guide, outlining a step−by−step process to use TMM−Sim, and provide a thorough analysis of the results. TMM−Sim is freely available, accessible through our web server (nanocalc.org), or downloadable from the TMM−Sim repository (for Unix, Windows, and macOS) on GitHub. With its user−friendly interface and powerful capabilities, TMM−Sim aims to facilitate and accelerate research in thin−film solar cells, fostering advancements in renewable energy technologies.