Intellectual Property Rights

In this master seminar, we will expand on the economic discussion of intellectual property rights. Intellectual property rights are widely considered as an effective instrument to foster innovation. For centuries, they are standard in modern economies’ legislation. Even though, among economists their appropriateness and usefulness is still discussed controversially. The “patent wars” of leading technological companies in the last decade, as well as new challenges arising out of the increasing digitalization have brought the discussion back on the agenda. The lecture will be based on a series of recently published research papers. Among other types of intellectual property right, we will pay some special interest in patents. The lectures content is completed by invited expert talks.