摘要：Within an environment of sequential innovations, real world evidence suggests that the licensing decision of the initial patent can occur either before or after the R&D investment of the follow-on invention. The possibility of licensing after the follow-on invention exists due to the presence of research exemption. This paper examines how the research exemption influences the licensor''s decision to license prior to the discovery of the follow-on invention. Within a three firm setting, the paper reveals that the research exemption does not alter the licensing decision while promoting a stream of future inventions. This provides an argument in support of research exemption as legal scheme
