抄録
The patent pool, a collective licensing of complementary patents, have recently been used for establishing new technology standards, as in the cases of the MPEG-2 digital format, digital versatile discs (DVDs), and advanced photographic system (APS). The improved clarity of guiding rules in the competition policy has facilitated this development. Pooling complementary patents is an effective measure to prevent excessive license fees and "hold-ups", as well as to provide "one-stop shopping", without limiting competition. However, the patent pool is often threatened by the presence of outsiders and possibility of a split. This paper analyzes such problems and discusses issues related to patent pool management and standardization policy.
