Unilateral Refusal to License Patent: Comparative Review of Competition Law Approaches in American, EU and Iranian Law

دانشنامه حقوق اقتصادی

Article 2, Volume 22, Issue 7, May 2015   

Document Type: Scientific research

DOI: 10.22067/le.v22i7.42287

Authors

Ebrahim rahbari^{* 1}; Mahmood jafari Chaleshtori²

¹Shahid Beheshti University

²trbiat Modares University

Abstract

Unilateral refusal to License is one of the Issues that in its context, competition law challenges patentee exclusive rights in a serious way; because such refusal may disrupt competition.
Having provided the exact notion of Unilateral refusal to License, this paper, in a analytical method and comparative view, is going to analyze different competition authorities procedures and judicial precedents and doctrines presented in US and EU law which try to justify competition law intervention in compelling patentee to license requisite companies and then clarify vague approaches of Iranian competition regulations.
The real question is in what Circumstances Refusal to license patent has anticompetitive effects? What is the criteria for this statement? What is the point of Iranian law and is it close to the view of pioneer countries or not?
Regarding our country competitive and Technological Atmosphere and established rules in US and EU law, this research provides some solutions in setting balance between fundamental competitive concerns in prohibiting anticompetitive manners in one hand and recognition of patent holder authority in the licensing his IP in the other hand, because of promoting Innovation.

Keywords

Unilateral Refusal to License; Patent; competition law; Compulsory License; Essential Facilities; Abuse of Dominant Position

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