Professor Varian's overview analyzes a variety of competitive strategies used by high-tech companies. These strategies - such as personalized pricing, lock-in, and the adoption of uniform compatibility standards to fuel bandwagon effects - often rely on intellectual property, typically...

Economists and policy makers have long recognized that innovators must be able to appropriate a reasonable portion of the social benefits of their innovations if innovation is to be suitably rewarded and encouraged. However, this paper identifies a number of specific fact patterns under which...

Economists and policy makers have long recognized that innovators must be able to appropriate a reasonable portion of the social benefits of their innovations if innovation is to be suitably rewarded and encouraged. However, this paper identifies a number of specific fact patterns under which...