Profiting from Digital Innovation: Patents, Copyright and Performance

Kevin J. Boudreau, Lars Bo Jeppesen, Milan Miric*

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

Abstract

It is yet unclear whether patents and copyright are effective at protecting digital innovations. In this paper, we investigate this question using novel product-level data on mobile apps, in which we relate the use of both patents and copyright to (i) revenue performance and (ii) IP licensing. We theorize that these relationships depend on differences in product-level characteristics and that apps differentiated by their design are more likely and effectively to be protected by patents; apps combining elements of differentiated content are more likely and effectively protected by copyright. Our results support these predictions that product characteristics shape the appropriate contingent use of patent and copyright protection in digital products. These patterns are especially relevant to industries where digital products combine elements of differentiated design and differentiated digital content.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummer104477
TidsskriftResearch Policy
Vol/bind51
Udgave nummer5
Antal sider15
ISSN0048-7333
DOI
StatusUdgivet - jun. 2022

Emneord

  • Cpoyright
  • Patents
  • Digitization
  • Digital platforms
  • Mobile apps
  • Platforms complementers
  • Innovation

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