Optimal Patent Length and Breadth

In providing rewards to innovators, there is a tradeoff between patent length and breadth. This article provides conditions under which the optimal patent policy involves infinitely-lived patents, with patent breadth adjusting to provide the required reward for innovation.

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Year of publication:	1990
Authors:	Gilbert, Richard ; Shapiro, Carl
Published in:	RAND Journal of Economics. - The RAND Corporation, ISSN 0741-6261. - Vol. 21.1990, 1, p. 106-112
Publisher:	The RAND Corporation

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Extent:	application/pdf
Type of publication:	Article
Source:	RePEc - Research Papers in Economics

Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005357056