Does copyright law encourage innovation? An empirical study

On 25 February 2015, the annual report of the Expert Commission on Research and Innovation was published and presented to the Federal Chancellor.

It is based, among other things, on a study by DIW Econ and Prof. Handke (University of Rotterdam): “Does copyright law promote innovation? An empirical study”.

Copyright provides an essential framework for creativity and innovation in a digital economy. Overall, the DIW Econ study concludes that the development of the copyright industries has been more positive than the debate on digital copying in recent years would suggest. Based on the available data, no positive effect of de facto copyright protection on innovation in the copyright industries can be identified.

On this basis, the Commission of Experts advocates various reforms to copyright law in its annual report.

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