Innovating Between and Within Technological Paradigms: A Response to Samuelson

In this Response, Professor Lee builds on Professor Samuelson’s Are Patents on Interfaces Impeding Interoperability? to emphasize that the social costs and benefits of interface patents are highly context-specific. Invoking the concept of “technological paradigms,” Professor Lee argues that strong interface patents can promote significant technological advances in contested industries, but that ex post policy interventions may be necessary to curtail patents on industry standards.