Technology Pooling Licensing Agreements: Promoting Patent Access Through Collaborative IP Mechanisms (Munich Intellectual Property Law Center - MIPLC)

In patent communities, several patentees cooperate contractually to license the respective patented technologies to third parties. In consideration of the rising relevance of this business practice, this dissertation discusses crucial courses and strategic considerations - which are the basis for the establishment of patent communities, both in legal and empirical regard - in order to identify the optimal conditions for successful conversion in a competitive surrounding. Thus, the best conditions for the promotion of innovation are to be created. In this regard, the composition and the structure are examined within such communities, with special consideration of the nature of the contained technologies (e.g. "complementary" contrary to "substitute" technologies). Furthermore, the study is completed by taking into account the regulation of the EU and of the US. Dissertation.