Second IIPC workshop in Tilburg

On 18 December 2009, TILEC organized its second IIPC workshop in Tilburg. The event aimed at presenting the research of the 2009 winners of a research grant competition on issues relating to Innovation, Intellectual Property and Competition (IIPC). Jens Prufer (TILEC) uncovered the rationale for the existence of so-called semi-public contests, such as business plan competitions. George Norman (Tufts University) described how in a world of "fast seconds" a patent office may want to enlarge the width of patent protection in order to foster innovation by small innovators. Elizabeth Muller (ZEW Mannheim) presented evidence about the impact of IP legal problems on firms' innovation activities. Simone Keunen (TILEC) reported about the attempts to develop a method for the detection of "patent thickets", which are said to stifle innovation by multiplying the cost for current innovators of building upon existing technology. James Prieger (Pepperdine University) explained how to approach the problem of the dramatic increase in patent applications from the point of view of congestion pricing. The meeting, organized by TILEC member Annette van Hirschfeld, proved a success, in the opinion of many attendees. Information about the 2010 IIPC competition will be posted on the TILEC website early next year