This paper provides an economic analysis of the proper role of copyright protection for computer software. We begin by identifying key economic conditions in the software market. Besides its public good characteristics, software generates network externalities through increased sales of programs...

This paper assesses the private and social incentives for disjoint networks to interconnect under various ownership structures. Terms of interconnection are derived for a noncooperative equilibrium. We find that networks mutually profit from interconnection when it creates new services that did...