Competition Policy & Intellectual Property Rights in the Knowledge-Based Economy

Ensuring a high rate of innovation & productivity improvement is at the core of the challenges facing the Canadian economy as we approach the next century. The sound application of well-designed government policies to maximise incentives for innovative activity while maintaining vigorous interfirm rivalry in markets is vital to meeting the challenge. In contemplating such matters, we must be mindful not only of domestic concerns, but also of developments abroad. In recent times, the United States, the European Community & Japan have all revisited the treatment of intellectual property under their respective competition laws, & issued formal guidelines regarding enforcement policies in this area. This volume is the outcome of a research exercise initiated by the Competition Bureau in co-operation with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office & the Micro-Economic Policy Analysis Branch of Industry Canada. It includes substantive papers authored by leading international academic & legal scholars, as well as select government policy analysts with experience working in competition agencies in Canada & the United States.