Patent’s Communications Policy

My paper Copyright's Communications Policy was on the long history of copyright lawuits being used to set national communications policy, as incumbents used copyright as a means of slowing or trying to destroy their rivals.

The Verizon v. Vonage litigation suggests a new chapter, on patent.  Verizon is using patent to try and kill a rival, with implications for communications policy.  The merits of the patent suit I cannot say; but this is a classic example of IP rights playing a role in communications policy -- potentially decisive in this case.

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