Publications

The State of the Union tracks reform across all 27 EU countries, with each chapter contributed by a regional expert from our network of Europe`s most influential think tanks and brightest policymakers and thinkers.

In the wake of expansion and increasing levels of both economic and political integration, this publication seeks to track the progress of market oriented reform in each EU member state. Each chapter tackles this challenge in different ways; many authors have zoomed in on one area of public policy to illustrate the successes and failures of reform in their home country: healthcare, for example, or tax.

The expansion of the Stockholm Network`s own work and the spread of its affiliated network of think tanks illustrates the rise of free market economics and liberal politics across the continent. Indeed, the tables in Europe have somewhat turned. New hope is now arising from many of the economies in Central and Eastern Europe. Their experiences since the fall of the Berlin Wall and their desire to move away from a top-down central state have led to them experiencing huge economic growth and prosperity. Now they are in many cases leading the way for others to follow with brave, if not always popular efforts to tackle healthcare and pensions and the widespread adoption of the controversial flat tax.

The message from this publication is clear: that reform is progressing at a rapid rate in Europe, and that improved public services and economic growth means that when it comes to well executed market reforms, the results speak for themselves.

In this paper, Professor Geradin addresses the issue of whether something has gone wrong with royalties in high technology industries. This paper seeks to answer this question by looking at a number of concrete scenarios where firms holding IPRs seek to obtain a return on their patent portfolios by licensing them. As will be seen, the behaviour of these firms essentially depends on whether they are vertically-integrated or non vertically-integrated.

This edition of Know IP contains the following articles:

• Commentary – On Risk, Market Failures and IPRs – Meir Pugatch and Helen Disney
  
• Topic of the Month – The Secret Garden – Gulya Isyanova
  
• Experts’ Corner – Parallel Imports Are Not a Cure For America’s Prescription Drug Access Problem – Brian Ferguson
  
• New and Notable – EU Consultation on Online Creative Content
  
• Upcoming Event – The Process and Impact of the WHO Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property – An Assessment
  
• New Publication – What’s wrong with royalties in high technology industries? by Damien Geradin
  
• Newsflashes – Top Stories in the World of IP and Competition

This paper focuses on the unique regulatory environment of the pharmaceutical industry with a focus on the regime in Europe. The authors examine sector specific IPRs granted in the EU to compensate pharmaceutical companies for the delays inherent in the regulatory system, namely Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPC) and regulatory data protection.

The paper goes on to discuss the current plans to address delays in the regulatory regime, arguing that these could, if successful, reduce the long-term need for special IP rules for pharmaceuticals. However, making these changes represents a long term challenge. As such, a special IP regime for pharmaceuticals is going to be necessary for the foreseeable future.

Dans ce numéro, nous abordons les sujets suivants :

• Commentaire - Pourquoi l`âge de la retraite n`est pas l`affaire de l’Etat
  – Kristian Niemietz

• Le dossier du mois – Le programme « Empowerment Through Savings »
  – Philippe Booth

• Le coin des think-tanks – Eviter les pansements pour les fractures
  La réforme de la santé en Lituanie
  – Monika Kacinskiene

• Rapport spécial – Des échos du passé – quid de l`Histoire ? Réforme de la santé dans les pays ex-communistes – Lawrence Freeborn

• Livres – Plan B. Den dolda jakten på välfärd [Plan B. The Secret Quest for Welfare] par Henrik Lindeberg et al – David Torstensson

• Dernières nouvelles

• Publications et événements du Stockholm Network
  

This eighth edition of the Climate of Opinion focuses on China and contains the following articles:

• Commentary – China’s Place in the Global Energy System – Gulya Isyanova
  
• Joint China-EU Initiatives Hold Key to Addressing Climate Change – Bernice Lee and Antony Froggatt
  
• China and Energy Security – Hongyi Lai
  
• China’s Effects on European Natural Gas Supply Security – Gabe Collins
  
• Microclimates: Top Stories in Energy and Environment

Research Fellow David Torstensson presented this research paper at The International Forum on the Creative Economy, a conference in Ottawa, Canada, organized by The Conference Board of Canada (a leading Canadian think tank) and Canadian Heritage (Government of Canada). The paper looks at the issue of online piracy and how policymakers in Europe and North America have attempted to address this issue. The conference was attended by the Assistant Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage, government officials and leading economists and policymakers from across the world.

Submission to the European Commission (Public Consultation on Creative Content Online in the Single Market – 2008).

This month we look at the following topics:

• On Egypt, the Sphinx and the Copyright Term of Protection – Dr Meir P. Pugatch and Helen Disney
  
• Digital Rights Management for Online Content in Europe: A Love-Hate Relationship – Sukanya Natajaran
  
• The Patent Reform Act – Bryan Ray
  
• A New Tune for the Music Business – Simon Moore
  
• New Publication: Developing Countries and Intellectual Property Rights: Myths and Reality by Felix Rozanski
  
• Newsflashes
  

This edition is dedicated to OPEC and contains the following articles:

• Why Should Europe Care About OPEC? – Gulya Isyanova

• Economic Challenges for OPEC Members – Rachel Ziemba

• Can More Consistent Supply Levels be Guaranteed by ‘Oil-Free Nationalism’ in OPEC Countries? – Amy Clarke

• A Gas Cartel: Lessons From OPEC – Matt Stone

• Microclimates: Top Stories in Energy and Environment