title: Research on the MacroEconomic Effects of Patents descr: Since Fritz Machlups report to the US congress of 1958, a considerable number of studies about the economic effects of the patent system has accumulated. Some studies deal with certain types of innovation (sequential, complex systems) or with special areas such as semiconductors, genetics or computing rules (algorithms, mathematics). None seems to claim that the patent system has a positive effect on innovation in these fields. Most find strong indications for negative effects. Some governmental studies (e.g. by intellectual property institutes and the like) combine such negative findings with a recommendation to legalise software patents. Aut: Article by John J. Flynn, College of Law, the University of Utah, published in the Antitrust Law Journal, 1998. In depth analysis of the effects of monopolies generated by patent inflation in general. aiw: article by Michael A. Heller and Rebecca S. Eisenberg, University of Michigan Law School, published in Science, 1998 May 1;280(5364):698-701. Show how the generalization of patents hinders innovation in the biology area. Aoy: Article in Le Monde in which Nobel Prize in economy 2001 Joseph E. Stiglitz says that the TRIPS intellectual property regime is detrimental to innovation and economic growth. Tem: The arguments for and against patents are probably as old as the patent system and numerous studies on both sides of the debate can be found. Yet, most analytical and historical examinations of patents and their meaning for technology and economic growth are generally deemed inconclusive. An excellent summary the economic debate, containing interesting references. Aft: An assessment of the merits and demerits of patents, copyright, trademark and business secrets in view of the needs of an information economy. Describes models for generating revenue which do not require patentsand copyrights. This text is well readable and cites economic studies but is more of a libertarian manifesto than an economic study itself. Ata: An outline of some of the problems and the spectrum of positions taken by various parties. Then, an attempt is made to extrapolate into the future a bit in four scenarios, to see what the world might look like under different patent regimes, ranging from no patents at all to much more severe restrictions than today. If these scenarios are accurate in their implications, they could help us define which future we might find desireable and acceptable to live in, which will hopefully encourage us enough to take appropriate steps towards implementing and shaping the corresponding legal landscape. The four scenarios are %(q:Stand on each others shoulders -- no patents), %(q:stand on each others feet -- unlimited patentability), %(q:restricted patentability), %(q:replace patents by innovation tax). eoS: contains a long list of commented references to studies on swpat economics Aea: Another libertarian manifesto against the patent system, with a lot of economic argumentation and interesting references Es0: A large british research project which concludes that the patent system as it stands in the year 2000 is in general less than helpful an instrument for fostering research and development in small and medium enterprises. dWo: various ongoing USAmerican research projects VSe: A mathematical model describing the economic effects of sofware patents and a concept for solving some of the problems: the distinction between copyright and useright. Emr: A systematic introduction to intellectual property rights, software economics and the interaction of the two. The beginning chapters provide very good introductory reading, the final chapters present proposals to European politics. The %(pi:website) contains links to many studies. Afo: An attempt by several economists in the US to keep track of research on the impact of patents on information innovation by writing occasional reviews of articles. Founded in early 2002. Several issues have appeared. StW: Short reviews of recent studies, published on the FICPI (patent lawyers association) website, points out limitations of these studies, especially of Bessen & Maskin, and creates the impression that all evidence is inconclusive. Yet quite informative. # Local Variables: ; # coding: utf-8 ; # srcfile: /ul/prg/src/mlht/app/swpat/swpatvreji.el ; # mailto: mlhtimport@a2e.de ; # passwd: XXXX ; # feature: swpatdir ; # doc: swpatsisku ; # txtlang: en ; # End: ;