Property, Liability and Market Power: The Antitrust Side of Copyright

Review of Law and Economics, Vol. 3, pp. 767-791

34 Pages Posted: 9 Apr 2007 Last revised: 9 Jan 2008

See all articles by Antonio Nicita

Antonio Nicita

University of Siena - Department of Economics

Giovanni Battista Ramello

University of Piemonte Orientale - A. Avogadro - Department of Public Policy and Public Choice; International Centre for Economic Research (ICER)

Abstract

This paper investigates the interplay between copyright law and antitrust law in two distinct respects. We first argue that the origin of copyright seems to be rooted not only in the need to foster the production and the spread of knowledge but also in the necessity of limiting market power on the side of distributors. We then show the potential impact on market competition of the evolution of copyright as a property rule. While property rules reduce transaction costs in the standard case of bilateral monopoly over the exchange of information goods, they might increase transaction costs. When coupled with market power, a property rule enables the right holder to control uses and prices so as to implement entry deterrence strategies against potential competitors. Conversely, we argue that reversing property rules in favor of competitors or switching to liability rules for copyright may restore competitive outcomes. This conclusion brings new insights on the application of the essential facility doctrine to copyrighted works.

Keywords: copyright, antitrust, property, liability, information goods, antitrust, monopolization, efficiency, tying, essential facility

JEL Classification: K11, K21, L41

Suggested Citation

Nicita, Antonio and Ramello, Giovanni Battista, Property, Liability and Market Power: The Antitrust Side of Copyright. Review of Law and Economics, Vol. 3, pp. 767-791, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=977898

Antonio Nicita

University of Siena - Department of Economics ( email )

Piazza S. Francesco, 7
Siena, I-53100
Italy

Giovanni Battista Ramello (Contact Author)

University of Piemonte Orientale - A. Avogadro - Department of Public Policy and Public Choice ( email )

Via Cavour 84
15100 Alessandria
Italy

International Centre for Economic Research (ICER) ( email )

Villa Gualino
Viale Settimio Severo, 63
10133 Torino
Italy

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