A Comparative Study of Nuclear Reactor Standardization Policy in the United States and France
Margaret Cooney As the United States moves to reduce its carbon footprint, nuclear energy has become an essential energy alternative to fossil fuels. The current U.S. nuclear fleet is aging and will soon be decommissioned, so building new reactors is essential for U.S. energy production needs. In building a new generation of nuclear reactors, the United States may consider looking to France for inspiration. France’s reactor fleet is highly standardized, meaning that there are only a few reactor designs. There are potential benefits and drawbacks to standardization in nuclear technology. Some scholars argue that a policy of standardization would lower...
Apple Bites Back: An Antitrust Analysis of Qualcomm’s Licensing Practices
Marie Weisfeiler Both Apple and the Federal Trade Commission filed lawsuits against Qualcomm alleging antitrust violations. Specifically, both alleged that Qualcomm used its monopoly power to engage in unfair licensing practices and create an exclusive deal with Apple, in violation of its industry commitment to use fair practices in licensing its patents. This essay compares Qualcomm’s practices to those of Microsoft in 1998, which, because of Microsoft’s restrictive licensing and exclusive deals, were deemed to have violated the Sherman Act. It then considers the implications for licensing, technology, and antitrust law if a similar case is litigated in the future....