Due to disagreement between policy makers and innovation economists, antitrust agencies have been rather confused over when and how to use competition law in reference to research and development (R&D) joint ventures and collaborations.
This important book dissects the antitrust treatment, in the US and under EU law, of joint R&D ventures from the 1970s to the present day. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the modifications and amendments made to legal acts and guidelines. It also looks at the slow shift in the scant case-law detected both under the antitrust laws of the USA and the competition rules of the EU.
Bjorn Lundqvist demonstrates that the prevailing antitrust policies towards R&D collaborations are very similar in the US and EU, and that they both mirror a lenient attitude towards collaboration between competitors. Nonetheless, ultimately, the book shows that a more stringent attitude from the antitrust establishment can be discerned, and that the concept of the "innovation market" could possibly soon have a revival.
This fascinating book caters to both researchers and practitioners in competition law and economics. The easy to follow charts and boxes will be particularly useful for practitioners when setting up R&D joint ventures.