- Write 3-10 pages as clearly and coherently as possible about any topic even loosely related to the law and economics of intellectual property

- The choice of the topic is up to you. Please find here some more information and suggestions how to write an essay

- Please find here an example of a very good essay

A straightforward way to make an essay:

Choose a topic and a paper from below. Summarize and evaluate the chosen paper in your own words.  What is good in the paper? What is not so good? In the evaluation, you can use Scotchmer's book, real world experience, what has been said during during the course or in another article, etc. The more challenging (methodologically) paper you choose the more easier it is to gain points.

Potential topics and background papers

Piracy, file sharing, and music industry

"The Effect of File Sharing of Record Sales: An Empirical Analysis" by Felix Oberholzer-Gee and Koleman Strumpf, Journal of Political Economy, February 2007

A special issue in the Journal of Law and Economics, April 2006

Patent trolls

Lerner, J. (2008) "Trolls on state street? An analysis of financial litigation, 1976-2005".Unpublished paper, Harvard Business School

Reitzig, M., Henkel, J., Heath, C. Research Policy, Feb 2007, pp. 137-154

Shapiro, C. (2006) "Injunctions, hold-ups and royalties", Unpublished paper, Haas Business School, University of California, Berkeley.

Jeff Woller's article in Mechanical Engineering Magazine

Valuation of intellectual property

Schotchmer's book, Chapter 9

Parchomovsky, G., and Wagner, R. P. (2005) "Patent Portfolios". U of Penn. Law School Public Law Working Paper 56.