A New (Intellectual) Property Right for Non-Personal Data? An Economic Analysis

Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht, Internationaler Teil (GRUR Int), 11/2016, 989-999

23 Pages Posted: 27 Oct 2016 Last revised: 6 Sep 2017

See all articles by Wolfgang Kerber

Wolfgang Kerber

University of Marburg - School of Business & Economics

Date Written: October 24, 2016

Abstract

The discussion about appropriate legal rules for the digital economy has raised the question of the ownership of non-personal data, e.g. in the context of value networks of firms, smart manufacturing and connected cars. The article analyzes from an economic perspective whether there is a need for a new exclusive IPR on data. It is shown that there are no convincing economic arguments for the introduction of such a new IPR, especially due to the lack of an incentive problem for the production and analysis of data. On the contrary, a new IPR on data might lead to considerable problems and dangers for competition and innovation, especially for the digital economy, which depends on the access to a broad variety of data. Therefore problems of access to data might be a much more important policy issue than exclusive property rights on data.

Keywords: Digital economy, data ownership, intellectual property

JEL Classification: K20, L86, O34

Suggested Citation

Kerber, Wolfgang, A New (Intellectual) Property Right for Non-Personal Data? An Economic Analysis (October 24, 2016). Gewerblicher Rechtsschutz und Urheberrecht, Internationaler Teil (GRUR Int), 11/2016, 989-999, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2858171

Wolfgang Kerber (Contact Author)

University of Marburg - School of Business & Economics ( email )

Am Plan 2
Marburg, D-35037
Germany
+49 6421 2823921 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.uni-marburg.de/en/fb02/research-groups/economics/wipol/prof-wolfgang-kerber

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