How to License Intangible Property

S-Tier
Journal: Quarterly Journal of Economics
Year: 1986
Volume: 101
Issue: 3
Pages: 567-589

Score contribution per author:

4.022 = (α=2.01 / 2 authors) × 4.0x S-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

We examine the optimal licensing strategy of a research lab selling to firms who are product market competitors. We consider an independent lab as well as a research joint venture. We show that (1) demands are interdependent and hence the standard price mechanism is not the profit-maximizing licensing strategy; (2) the seller's incentives to develop the innovation may be excessive; (3) the seller's incentives to disseminate the innovation typically are too low; (4) larger ventures are less likely to develop the innovation, and more likely to restrict its dissemination in those cases where development occurs; and (5) a downstream firm that is not a member of the research venture is worse off as a result of the innovation.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:oup:qjecon:v:101:y:1986:i:3:p:567-589.
Journal Field
General
Author Count
2
Added to Database
2026-01-25