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On the duration of technology licensing

Author

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  • Gordanier, John
  • Miao, Chun-Hui
Abstract
We model an innovator's choice of payment scheme and duration as a joint decision in a multi-period licensing game with potential future innovations and some irreversibility of technology transfer. We find that it may be optimal to license the innovation for less than the full length of the patent and that royalty contracts can be more profitable than fixed-fee licensing even in the absence of information asymmetry and risk aversion. Moreover, licensing contracts based on royalty have a longer duration than fixed-fee licenses and are more likely to be used in industries where innovations are frequent and intellectual property protection is weak. Our paper also highlights an important link between the study of technology licensing and the theory of durable goods.

Suggested Citation

  • Gordanier, John & Miao, Chun-Hui, 2011. "On the duration of technology licensing," International Journal of Industrial Organization, Elsevier, vol. 29(6), pages 755-765.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:indorg:v:29:y:2011:i:6:p:755-765
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijindorg.2011.04.003
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Ana Mauleon & Vincent Vannetelbosch & Cecilia Vergari, 2013. "Bargaining and delay in patent licensing," International Journal of Economic Theory, The International Society for Economic Theory, vol. 9(4), pages 279-302, December.
    2. Rafael Moner-Colonques & Jose J. Semperes-Monerris, 2012. "Liscensing Policies in North-South Technology Transfers," NCID Working Papers 12/2012, Navarra Center for International Development, University of Navarra.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Innovation; Licensing; Patent; Royalty; Technology leakage; Time consistency;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D86 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Economics of Contract Law
    • L13 - Industrial Organization - - Market Structure, Firm Strategy, and Market Performance - - - Oligopoly and Other Imperfect Markets
    • L24 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - Contracting Out; Joint Ventures

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