Livingston, Dorothy --- "Perspectives from competition law" [2013] ELECD 611; in Pittard, Marilyn; Monotti, L. Ann; Duns, John (eds), "Business Innovation and the Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2013) 284

Book Title: Business Innovation and the Law

Editor(s): Pittard, Marilyn; Monotti, L. Ann; Duns, John

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781781001615

Section: Chapter 17

Section Title: Perspectives from competition law

Author(s): Livingston, Dorothy

Number of pages: 15

Abstract/Description:

The ‘Schumpeterian’ economic school of thought sees the possibility for a successful innovatory business to enjoy a monopoly position (at least for a time, until a new and creative technology comes along to destroy the incumbent’s business) as a key driver for successful innovation and sees competition law constraints on the achievement of monopoly as a hindrance to the full realization of efficient ‘creative destruction’ through innovation. On the other side of this argument, Kenneth J. Arrow argues that ‘the incentive to invent is less under monopolistic than under competitive conditions’. Competition (US ‘antitrust’) law enforcers agree with the Arrow side of the argument: Today, it is widely recognized that patent and antitrust drive innovation in different but complementary ways. Both disciplines promote dynamic efficiency: that is, a system of property rights and market rules that create appropriate incentives for invention, innovation, and risk taking – delivering the greatest returns for society not just for today, but tomorrow as well. The patent grant does this by providing incentives for inventors to take risks and make investments in research and development. Patents transform a claimed piece of intellectual progress into a property right, allowing the inventor to exclude others from using that invention during the term of the patent. Our intellectual property framework further advances follow-on innovation through public disclosure of the invention. Antitrust’s core mission is to appropriately foster and protect the competitive environment by preventing certain conduct that threatens free markets. This environment is what pushes companies to constantly innovate and allows them to profit when they do.