Copyright and brands in the digital age: Internalizing the externalities of meaning

The adoption of binary code as the universal standard for globalized communications generates highly positive externalities often referred to as network effects. But what about meaning? What are the externalities associated with the formatting and circulation of meaning, and are they, too,all positive? Within the digital paradigm, is it really possible to separate the notion of expression -- covered by copyright -- from the meanings it creates? Isn't meaning heavily dependent on the concept of brand? And if so, how do copyright and trademark institutions work together to stimulate and promote meaningful information? To answer these questions, we will look at how the meaningful forms of expression -- the works -- that have historically been covered by copyright generate specific types of externality, both positive and negative, giving rise to both incentive and censorship mechanisms. We will then show how the institutions of copyright and author's rights that allow the appropriation of a meaningful good also confer a brand on it, identifying its sources. This leads to mixed externalities from both directions, with the result that copyright and trademark institutions cannot be fully separated from each other.copyright; brand; Intellectual property; trademark law; media economics

Decreasing Copyright Enforcement Costs: The Scope of a Gradual Response

The digitization of copyrighted goods and the dematerialization of their distribution over the Internet have weakened copyright, a key institution of the creative industries. One factor affecting the value of copyright stems from the broadband roll-out, wherein copyright enforcement costs have become higher than the estimated benefits of copyright. This paper analyzes the causes of this situation and suggests how a graduated response to infringers may durably decrease copyright enforcement costs. Beginning with a review of the economic literature on copyright focusing on its industrial aspects, the study then analyzes how the consumers' impunity provides incentives to “free ride” on copyright all along the vertical distribution chain. This rapidly increases copyright enforcement costs. Next, the paper describes both the graduated response mechanism and the voluntary agreement which initiated this system in France. In conclusion, this study argues that increasing the cost of free-riding for the final consumer should lead to a decrease of copyright enforcement costs and, therefore, higher returns in the creative industries.Copyright, Creative industries, Regulation enforcement costs, Digitization, Graduated response.

Free-Riding and Luxury Brands on the Internet

International audienceLuxury is a complex industrial activity whose products combine strong vertical differentiation and a meaning value for the consumer. Luxury offers experiences, the economy of which is based on signalling. This gives rise to intense intangible investment internalized by trademark law and vertical restraints in distribution. However, the extent of the added value and the power of externalities associated with communication generate many sources of free-riding.Using the tools of industrial economics, this article analyses how the digitization of information and transactions creates new forms of free-riding in relation to luxury brands. Identifying vertical disintegration as a major source of free-riding, it calls for improved internalization of the enforcement of trademark law by all players in the digital value chain

Nouveaux axes de croissance des industries des minerais et métaux

Ce texte reprend la notion de mode de croissance présentée pour la première fois en 1988*, comme analyseur des formes anciennes de la régulation des marchés de minerais et de métaux. Avant 1960, la régulation oligopolistique des marchés était subordonnée à ce que les firmes productrices trouvent sur ces marchés mondiaux une dynamique de croissance stable financée par les rentes minières. La montée politique du tiers-monde dans les années 60 et la cassure de la croissance de la demande mondiale dans les années 70 ont brisé progressivement mais irréversiblement cet équilibre. Les entreprises minières et métallurgiques sont désormais à la recherche de nouveaux modes de croissance au sein et en dehors des marchés de commodités. Ces nouvelles dynamiques tendent à faire d’elles un ensemble de plus en plus hétérogène.* L'oligopole comme mode de croissance et les raisons de son dépassement. Économie et Société, Paris 1988.This paper considers the notion of oligopolistic growth, presented earlier in 1988, in order to analyze former types of regulation in the markets for ores and metals. Before 1960, the regulation of these markets was subordinated to the fact that producers were able to find a stable growing world market financed largely by mining rents. The political ascent of third world countries in the sixties, and the breakdown of the growth in world demand in the seventies, shattered irreversibly this equilibrium. Mining and metallurgic enterprises are now searching for new growth paths within and outside commodity markets. These new dynamics tend to foster market heterogeneity

Decreasing Copyright Enforcement Costs: The Scope of a Gradual Response

International audienceThe digitization of copyrighted goods and the dematerialization of their distribution over the Internet have weakened copyright, a key institution of the creative industries. One factor affecting the value of copyright stems from the broadband roll-out, wherein copyright enforcement costs have become higher than the estimated benefits of copyright. This paper analyzes the causes of this situation and suggests how a graduated response to infringers may durably decrease copyright enforcement costs. Beginning with a review of the economic literature on copyright focusing on its industrial aspects, the study then analyzes how the consumers' impunity provides incentives to “free ride” on copyright all along the vertical distribution chain. This rapidly increases copyright enforcement costs. Next, the paper describes both the graduated response mechanism and the voluntary agreement which initiated this system in France. In conclusion, this study argues that increasing the cost of free-riding for the final consumer should lead to a decrease of copyright enforcement costs and, therefore, higher returns in the creative industries

Histoire sociale comparée de l’industrialisation

Alain Dewerpe, directeur d’études Les objets de l’industrie (1760-1960) Le séminaire, pour la troisième et dernière année, a été consacré aux objets dans l’histoire de l’industrialisation occidentale. Il a tenté de faire l’inventaire raisonné – à partir de démarches multiples (archéologie industrielle, histoire de la culture matérielle, sociologie des technosciences, économie des conventions) – des objets de l’univers matériel de la production industrielle, d’analyser leurs interactions avec ..

Is China a Weibo democracy?

International audienc