We investigate how costly acquisition and exchange of customer-specific information affects industry profit and consumer welfare. Consumers differ in their preferences for competing brands and in their switching costs between brands. Brand-producing firms use their acquired knowledge of...

We analyze how the introduction of digital technologies for storing and distributing information affects the incentives to enforce copyrights protection. We first characterize the conditions under which the change from non-digital to digital distribution may enhance or reduce profits. Secondly,...