1 Introduction 1
1 Background 1
2 Research questions 2
3 Methodological approach and source materials 3
4 Limitations 5
2 Industry standards 7
1 Introduction and definition of standards 7
2 Classification of standards by their economic effects 8
3 Standard setting process 12
4 Standardisation and technical change 15
5 Standards and competition 20
3 Patents and standards in the US 23
1 The legal issues 23
2 Patents and informal standards 24
3 Patents and formal standards 42
4 Patents and standards in the EU 55
1 Patents and informal standards 55
2 Patents and formal standards 78
3 Exceptional circumstances and industry standards 82
5 Patent laws and standards 96
1 Introduction 96
2 Reverse doctrine of equivalents 97
3 Compulsory licences 107
6 Costs and benefits of patent systems 118
1 Introduction 118
2 Costs and benefits of patent systems 119
3 Costs of patent systems in relation to standards 133
4 Review and implications 162
7 Alternative solutions and a suggested solution 165
1 Introduction 165
2 Proposals for patent reform 167
3 Suggested solution 200
4 Implementation of the proposed model 214
8 Conclusion 216
References 219
Index 231