Derek Khanna, who spearheaded the legislative initiative that made phone unlocking legal, has published a report on patent reform with the libertarian-leaning Lincoln Labs that sets out the case for patent reform being necessary for economic liberty.
Khanna’s report quotes liberatarian heroes from Hayek to Friedman to make its case. I agree with much of the basis Khanna sets out for patent reform as key to promoting innovation and competition, though my own political leanings are far to his left, and my own views on patents are predicated as much on skepticism of the utility of markets as Khanna’s are on their value, but we get to the same place.
This is outstanding news: an issue where broad agreement can be found across the political spectrum is an issue where movement is likely to take place.
One place where I differ strongly with Khanna is on the utility of pharma patents. I know that some legit research is supported by patents, but there’s evidence that using markets and property rights to direct pharma outcomes is seriously suboptimal, leaving important diseases “orphaned” and encouraging pharma companies to focus on gaming the patent system rather than doing useful R&D.
HOW TO FIX PATENTS:
ECONOMIC LIBERTY REQUIRES PATENT REFORM [Derek Khanna/Lincoln Labs]