All Blog Posts

UC Berkeley economics professor Carl Shapiro argues that the Federal Trade Commission’s withdrawal of its 2020 Vertical Merger Guidelines relies on specious economic arguments regarding elimination of double marginalization.

Carl Shapiro shares his insights about how to move antitrust enforcement forward in a constructive manner during this time of growing concern over the political and economic power of large corporations in the United States.

Professor Jay Pil Choi and Professor Carl Shapiro have recently released separate papers that examine patent litigation through non-practicing entities, patent-assertion entities, and standard-essential patents.

What is a ‘fair’ royalty for the use of patented technologies incorporated in a technical standard like Wi-Fi? A Toulouse School of Economics conference held on 16 May 2013 addressed this issue at the heart of modern technology markets.

Leading economists are exploring technology patents, licensing through standard-setting organizations (SSOs), and how FRAND terms impact innovation. Recent studies and articles by economic thought-leaders are summarized.

Last month’s Sixth Annual Searle Center Conference on Antitrust Economics and Competition Policy gathered leading scholars as well as members of major corporations and regulatory bodies, whose research and interests relate to antitrust and competition policy. Topics addressed during the conference included vertical integration, intellectual property, merger analysis and pricing strategies.

Today (Monday, July 15th, 2013) economics professor Carl Shapiro, UC Berkeley, discusses the recent efforts from the Obama Administration to protect innovators from frivolous litigation brought by patent-assertion entities.

Several TAP scholars are participating this weekend in the 11th Annual International Industrial Organization Conference. Hosted by the International Industrial Organization, the 3-day conference will cover topics ranging from technology and information, access regulation and net neutrality, and search behavior to vertical contracts in high-tech industries, the effects of intellectual property policy, and the economic impacts of innovation.

Patent Assertion Entities (PAEs) are a hot topic in antitrust circles. Professor Daniel Sokol hosted a blog symposium on the Antitrust & Competition Policy Blog to delve into the issues surrounding PAEs and their impact on innovation and competition. Several TAP scholars participated in the symposium; excerpts from their posts are included.

The New York Times “Room for Debate” section asked TAP scholar Carl Shapiro to help answer the questions: Is the revival of mergers and acquisitions a reassuring sign of economic resurgence and a harbinger of strength? Or is it good news only for those cutting the deals, and likely to sap the recovery?