Intellectual Property, Competition Law and Economics in Asia

(Hardback)

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This book results from a conference held in Singapore in September 2009 that brought together distinguished lawyers and economists to examine the differences and similarities in the intersection between intellectual property and competition laws in Asia. The prime focus was how best to balance these laws to improve economic welfare. Countries in Asia have different levels of development and experience with intellectual property and competition laws. Japan has the longest experience and now vigorously enforces both competition and intellectual property laws. Most other countries in Asia have only recently introduced intellectual property laws (due to the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement) and competition laws (sometimes due to the World Bank, International Monetary Fund or free trade agreements). It would be nave to think that laws, even if similar on the surface, have the same goals or can be enforced similarly. Countries have differing degrees of acceptance of these laws, different economic circumstances and differing legal and political institutions. To set the scene, Judge Doug Ginsburg, Greg Sidak, David Teece and Bill Kovacic look at the intersection of intellectual property and competition laws in the United States. Next are country chapters on Asia, each jointly authored by a lawyer and an economist. The country chapters outline the institutional background to the intersection in each country, discuss the policy underpinnings (theoretically as well as describing actual policy initiatives), analyse the case law in the area, and make policy prescriptions.

Reviews

...this is a useful and well thought out book that raises many important questions concerning the complex links between IPR, competition law, economics and innovation and within a wide Asian context. I would recommend it to all those who are in the aforementioned disciplines and who value the importance of an interdisciplinary approach. -- Prof. Ruth Taplin * Interdisciplinary Journal of Economics and Business Law, Volume 2(3) *
This work will be useful not only to thoughtful academics, but also to practitioners and competition authorities who are trying to catch up fast with the many radical developments in Asia. Many of the contributors of the national laws and not only the editor and the five distinguished commentators from the US are leading thinkers in the field. The book is most welcome, especially now that so many consultants and major firms are setting up offices in Asia and need fundamental and accurate texts, Doubtless, a new edition will soon be required. -- Valentine Korah * World Competition Law and Economics Review, Volume 35(3) *

Author Bio

R Ian McEwin is Professor of Law, National University of Singapore, Senior Economic and Regulatory Advisor, Rajah & Tann, Singapore and Visiting Professor in the Law Faculty, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok. He was formerly economics adviser to the Singapore Department of Trade and Industry on competition law matters, before joining the Singapore Competition Commission as its inaugural Chief Economist.