All Article Summaries

The 1996 Communications Decency Act (CDA) makes online platforms immune from liability for harmful content posted by third parties. Platforms should enjoy immunity only if the platform takes reasonable steps to prevent harm.

Digital platforms create value for users and make markets more efficient. But some platforms gain excessive market power. Antitrust agencies and regulators must adopt new methods to preserve the benefits of platforms but reduce harm.

Firms should make ethical choices in using data to avoid souring relationships with users. Three basic guidelines reduce risk and help maintain user trust.

Digital platforms alter the structure of markets and create complex business ecosystems. Platforms challenge traditional methods of management and regulation.

This paper asks why some products, like Microsoft’s Windows, are made to work with those produced by others.

This paper describes why firms like Apple, Microsoft, and Google choose to orchestrate the creation of products by outside developers rather than to create product internally. Firms that produce digital products like software benefit most from this strategy, because of knowledge spillovers.

Many businesses are “pipelines” that channel goods or services to consumers. Today, pipelines face competition from a new business model, the platform. Platforms provide opportunities for consumers and producers to interact, just as Uber connects drivers and passengers.

Platforms are businesses that serve two groups of users, as eBay serves both sellers and buyers. Platforms produce many benefits for society, but disrupt traditional markets. Managers must adopt new strategies to succeed in these markets.

This study considers whether electronic networks allow workers to multitask more effectively. Workers given diverse tasks are more productive when they multitask more, up to a point.

This paper asks when software platforms benefit by opening their technology to potential rivals.