Optimal disclosure delay in multistage R&D competition

Abstract This paper analyzes the effects of a policy of disclosure with delay on the speed of discovery and incentives to invest in a multi-stage patent race. Depending on the parameters, four equilibrium configurations are obtained. In the first, a single firm acts as a monopolist. In the second, a single firm invests at the initial stages, but the second firm joins the race after the disclosure of the intermediate product. In the third, both firms invest when they have equal knowledge, but only the leader invests before the disclosure of the intermediate product. In the last configuration, firms always compete, except when the disclosure date is close. The determination of the optimal disclosure delay involves a trade-off between the incentives to invest and the expected time of discovery of the final product.