Christopher Yoo
John H. Chestnut Professor of Law
Department: School of Law
Colleges / Universities: University of Pennsylvania
Contact
3400 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6204
Email: csyoo@law.upenn.edu
Website: Penn Law faculty profile
Christopher Yoo has emerged as one of the nation’s leading authorities on law and technology. His research focuses on how economic theories of imperfect competition are transforming the regulation of the Internet and other forms of electronic communications. He has been a leading voice in the “network neutrality” debate that has dominated Internet policy over the past several years. He is also pursuing research on copyright theory as well as the history of presidential power. He is the author (with Daniel F. Spulber) of Networks in Telecommunications: Economics and Law (Cambridge, 2009) and (with Steven G. Calabresi) of The Unitary Executive: Presidential Power from Washington to Bush (Yale, 2008). Yoo testifies frequently before Congress, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Federal Trade Commission.
Degrees
J.D. Northwestern University, 1995
M.B.A. University of California, Los Angeles, 1991
A.B. Harvard University, 1986
Recent Academic Article Summaries
Cloud Computing: Architectural and Policy Implications
This paper offers an overview of cloud computing technology and its economic implications.
The most serious problems cloud computing services face relate to privacy and security. Other issues include uncertainty about whether they could be regulated as telecommunications carriers or even public utilities.
Is the Internet a Maturing Market?
This paper looks at how the aging of the Internet relates to broadband growth and policy.
Policymakers should not adopt policies that restrict firms’ ability to use new technology or try new business models.
Free Speech and the Myth of the Internet as an Unintermediated Experience
This paper asks how best to protect free speech on the Internet.
The Internet is a very complex network and it would not be possible to present information online in a way that is completely uncontrolled by anyone. Information management by private firms is similar to the way editors control the content of newspapers, and makes sense. Allowing government to regulate the Internet presents a greater danger to free speech than private control.
Networks in Telecommunications: Economics and Law
This book surveys the law and economics of communications networks.
Most traditional approaches to regulation for communications networks are outdated. New theories should emphasize the growth of competition and markets.
Nonrivalry and Price Discrimination in Copyright Economics
This paper explores the effect of different approaches to copyright on consumers.
The best approach to copyright policy is a position between “strong” and “weak” copyright. Allowing price discrimination will usually help consumers.
Blog Posts
Quotes in the News
Yoo, C. (2017, December 5). Knowledge@Wharton.“If the FCC bans paid prioritization, then consumers will eventually shoulder the cost of expanding network capacity, not Netflix. ISPs will pass down the cost to users since Netflix cannot pay for fast lanes.”
Christopher Yoo
John H. Chestnut Professor of Law
School of Law
University of Pennsylvania
Yoo, C. (2017, November 21). Bloomberg.“You can change your mind so long as you justify it and explain why the policy has changed.”
Christopher Yoo
John H. Chestnut Professor of Law
School of Law
University of Pennsylvania
Yoo, C. (2015, May 14). The Wall Street Journal.“In different environments, the balance ought to be different.”
Christopher Yoo
John H. Chestnut Professor of Law
School of Law
University of Pennsylvania
Yoo, C. (2015, February 12). Forbes.“Frankly, the regulators are not that good at understanding the underlying technologies. Even if they’re right now, things change.”
Christopher Yoo
John H. Chestnut Professor of Law
School of Law
University of Pennsylvania
Yoo, C. (2014, May 15). American Public Media’s Marketplace.“The 'Common Carrier' regime has always acknowledged that providers can create different classes of service as long as they charge everyone who wants that class of service the same amount....it wouldn’t prevent internet service providers from creating a fast lane in the first place.”
Christopher Yoo
John H. Chestnut Professor of Law
School of Law
University of Pennsylvania
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