The European Union will be introducing a Europe-wide patent, the so-called Community Patent. Its aim is to foster innovative activity, but strategic effects between firms competing in R&D have not been considered in the official discourse. We show that, even if these are taken into account, the Community Patent will increase innovative activity and welfare. On the other hand, if the decision of participating in R&D is considered, then this increased R&D will be concentrated into fewer firms. Furthermore, we show that existing asymmetries between countries and firms are bound to increase.
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Paper provided by C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers in its series CEPR Discussion Papers with number
4883.
References listed on IDEAS Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
Cohen, Wesley M & Klepper, Steven, 1996.
"A Reprise of Size and R&D,"
Economic Journal,
Royal Economic Society, vol. 106(437), pages 925-51, July.
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