The Economics of Patents: An Overview

摘要: In this paper, we review the economic effects of intellectual property rights and specifically address economics patent system. The production dissemination new knowledge is fraught with market failures because a public good. Patents provide second-best solution to resulting appropriability problem. We main benefits costs system, focusing on role that patents play in providing incentives for innovation, promoting knowledge, helping technology transfer commercialization technology. From more normative perspective, questions what features an optimal system are whether socially desirable. examine problem length scope protection, both case single innovation richer cumulative innovations. Finally, issues related how influences structure research development investments.