Dr. Mor Bakhoum
LL.M. (Lausanne), LL.M. (Chicago-Kent)

Affiliated Research Fellow

Intellectual Property and Competition Law

mor.bakhoum(at)ip.mpg.de

Areas of Interest:

Competition Law; International IP Law; Economic Law; Africa

Academic Résumé

Since 2009
Senior Research Fellow, Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition

September - December 2014
Emile Noel Fellow, Jean Monnet Center for International and Regional Economic Law and Justice, New York University (NYU) School of Law, USA

Since 2013
Lecturer, Munich Intellectual Property Law Center (MIPLC).

Lecturer, WIPO, OAPI, Université de Yaoundé II, Master program on Intellectual Property.

2008
LL.M. in International Intellectual Property Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, USA. Graduated top of the class with high honors GPA: 3.88/4.00. 

Summer Intern, Schiff Harding LLP, Chicago, USA. 

2007 - 2008
Research Assistant to Professor David Gerber, Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, USA.

2006
Ph.D. Degree in competition law (Summa Cume Laude), University of Lausanne, Switzerland. Ph.D. awarded the 2008 prize of the city of lausanne for the best Ph.D. in human sciences. Ph.D. supervised by Prof. Dr. Andreas Heinemann, University of Zurich.

2003
LL.M. in European and International Economic Law, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Certificate in International and Comparative Arbitration, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.

2001
Master degree in Economic and Business Law (with honors-mention assez bien), Université Gaston Berger (UGB), Saint-Louis, Sénégal.

1999
Undergraduate degree in Business Law (Maîtrise en droit des affaires), University Gaston Berger (UGB), Senegal.

Academic Prizes and Honours

2008
Prize of the City of Lausanne for best Ph.D Thesis in Human Sciences, Switzerland

CALI Award for the best LL.M. Thesis, Chicago-Kent College of Law, USA

CALI Award for the best Antitrust paper, Chicago-Kent College of Law, USA

Scholarships

2007
Research grant of the Société Acamémique Vaudoise, Lausanne, Switzerland

2004, 2005, 2006
Scholarship holder of the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property, Competition and Tax Law, Munich, Germany

Memberships

Academic Society of Competition Law (ASCOLA)

African Law Association (www.rechtinafrika.de)

Association Internationale de Droit Economique (AIDE)

Board of Institut Euro-Africain de Droit Economique (INEADEC)

Editorial board of Revue Internationale de Droit Economique (RIDE)

Selected Publications

The Economic Characteristics of Developing Jurisdictions: Their Implications for Competition Law, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA 2015, XVII + 402 S. (gemeinsam mit Josef Drexl et al.).
more...

Competition Policy and Regional Integration in Developing Countries, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA 2012, XIV + 333 S. (gemeinsam mit Josef Drexl et al.).
more...

TRIPS and Competition Rules: From Transfer of Technology to Innovation Policy, in: Hanns Ullrich et al. (Hg.), TRIPS plus 20 - From Trade Rules to Market Principles (MPI Studies on Intellectual Property and Competition Law, 25), Springer, Heidelberg; Berlin 2016, 529 - 559 (gemeinsam mit Beatriz Conde Gallego)
more...

Balancing "Incentive to Innovate" and "Protection of Competition": An African Perspective on Intellectual Property Rights and Competition Law, in: Margo Bagley, Ruth Okedeji (Hg.), Patent Law in Global Perspective, Oxford University Press, New York, NY 2014, 515 - 540.
more...

Reflections on the Goals of Competition Law in Developing Countries, in: Daniel Zimmer (Hg.), The Goals of Competition Law, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA 2012, 408 - 440.
more...

A Dual Language in Modern Competition Law? - Efficiency Approach versus Development Approach and Implications for Developing Countries, World competition 34, 3 (2011), 495 - 522.
more...

Full List of Publications

Edited Works

Personal Data in Competition, Consumer Protection and Intellectual Property Law - Towards a Holistic Approach? (MPI Studies on Intellectual Property and Competition Law, 28), Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg 2018, VI + 577 pp. (together with Beatriz Conde Gallego et al.). DOI

    The Economic Characteristics of Developing Jurisdictions: Their Implications for Competition Law, Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA 2015, XVII + 402 pp. (together with Josef Drexl et al.).

      Competition Policy and Regional Integration in Developing Countries, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA 2012, XIV + 333 pp. (together with Josef Drexl et al.).

        Books and Monographs

        Making Markets Work for Africa - Markets, Development, and Competition Law in Sub-Saharan Africa, Oxford University Press, New York 2019, XXI + 221 pp. (together with Eleanor M. Fox).

          L'articulation du droit communautaire et des droits nationaux de la concurrence dans l'Union Economique et Monetaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA) (Münchner Schriften zum Europäischen und Internationalen Kartellrecht, 13), Stämpfli [u.a.], Bern [u.a.] 2007, XVI + 425 pp.

            Contributions to Collected Editions, Commentaries, Handbooks and Encyclopaedias

            The Interface Between Intellectual Property Rights and Competition Law: Implications for Public Health in Sub-Saharan Africa, in: Deborah Healey, Michael Jacobs, Rhonda L. Smith (eds.), Research Handbook on Methods and Models of Competition Law (Research Handbooks in Competition Law), Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA, USA 2020, 312 - 335.

              Competition (Law) and Access to Telecommunications Technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa, in: Damien Gerard, Ioannis Lianos (eds.), Reconciling Efficiency and Equity - A Global Challenge for Competition Policy (Global Competition Law and Economics Policy), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge; New York; Melbourne; New Delhi; Singapore 2019, 152 - 172.

                Introducing a Holistic Approach to Personal Data, in: Mor Bakhoum et al. (ed.), Personal Data in Competition, Consumer Protection and Intellectual Property Law (MPI Studies on Intellectual Property and Competition Law, 28), Springer, Berlin 2018, 1 - 4 (together with Beatriz Conde Gallego et al.). DOI

                  Abuse Without Dominance in Competition Law: Abuse of Economic Dependence and its Interface with Abuse of Dominance, in: Fabiana Di Porto, Rupprecht Podszun (eds.), Abusive Practices in Competition Law (ASCOLA Competition Law series ), Edward Elgar Publishing, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA, USA 2018, 157 - 186.

                  • This paper investigates the interface between abuse of dominance and abuse of economic dependence, also known in some jurisdictions as abuse of superior bargaining position. When dealing with abuse-of-dominance cases, although the anticompetitive behavior is directed to competitors (exclusion) or consumers (exploitation), there is a fundamental requirement that competition in the relevant market be affected. This approach does not address relative dominance in cases when abuse occurs without dominance and may affect competition. This happens in situations where a relatively dominant market participant enjoys a superior bargaining position with respect to its business partners and uses this position to its own advantage. Taking the example of the distribution sector, the paper showcases how competition may be affected by an undertaking without a dominant position using a network of contracts. This situation can be illustrated in cases where a network of contracts is created by a relatively dominant firm whose sole objective is to lock in smaller or economically weaker business partners in a network and thereby limit their possibility to shift. Such networks of contractual relationships may hinder not only the economic freedom of the weaker party (vertical dimension), but may also strengthen the market power of the relatively dominant firm (horizontal dimension). As a consequence, the relevant market may be affected although the undertaking does not have a dominant position. Hence, there is a close link between economic dependence, freedom of contract and competition law. Situations of abuses by non-dominant firms are not captured by the requirements that the undertaking enjoy a dominant position and the relevant market be affected in abuse-of-dominance cases. This shows the limits of the concept of abuse of dominance as a legal tool used to protect competition in the relevant market. This paper argues that, in addition to abuse of dominance, there is a potential of using the concept of relative dominance (by sanctioning abuses of economic dependence) to protect not only the freedom of competition of the market participants, but also competition itself.

                    From a theoretical point of view, the paper wrestles with the concept of abuse of economic dependence from the perspective of the goals of competition law: What does it tell us about these goals. Does it stretch the goals of competition law by taking into account fairness and the protection of the weaker party against the stronger? Does abuse of dominance focus the goals of competition law on efficiency? This discussion on abuse of economic dependence and goals is relevant from an enforcement perspective when assessing the appropriate level of enforcement of competition law. The question of whether competition law is over enforced in cases of abuse of economic dependence is another aspect dealt with in this paper.
                  • Also published as: Max Planck Institute for Innovation & Competition Research Paper No. 15-15
                  • Event: 13th ASCOLA Conference, New York, 2018-06-21

                  TRIPS and Competition Rules: From Transfer of Technology to Innovation Policy, in: Hanns Ullrich et al. (ed.), TRIPS plus 20 - From Trade Rules to Market Principles (MPI Studies on Intellectual Property and Competition Law, 25), Springer, Heidelberg; Berlin 2016, 529 - 559 (together with Beatriz Conde Gallego). DOI

                  • The competition-related provisions in the TRIPS Agreement were very much influenced by the context in which the Agreement was concluded. The inclusion of competition provisions served a specific purpose. Competition law was basically seen as a tool to facilitate the transfer of technology. Twenty years after the entry into force of TRIPS, the legal landscape within which IPRs are exercised has experienced tremendous changes on the IP front, as well as on the competition law front. IP protection tends to be raised beyond the minimum standards of TRIPS, questionable protection has been granted specially in the field of patents, enforcement mechanisms and remedies have been strengthened and IP portfolios are strategically used in the markets. From an international perspective, higher IP standards have been exported through bilateral and regional trade agreements. Competition law is developing at a very fast speed, especially in emerging and developing economies. Moreover, competition law and IP laws are increasingly understood as being complementary to each other. A strict and “conflict oriented” reading of TRIPS’ competition provisions does not help to cope with the new strategies of innovation and the new forms of use of IPRs. We argue in this paper that a flexible reading of the competition-related provisions in TRIPS provides enough room for applying competition law as an innovation instrument. Hence, the application of competition law to combat IP-related restraints of competition that inhibit innovation would be covered by the rationale of the TRIPS Agreement just as much as an application of competition law aimed at enhancing access to and dissemination of IP-protected products.

                  The Informal Economy and its Interface with Competition Law and Policy, in: Josef Drexl et al. (ed.), The Economic Characteristics of Developing Jurisdictions: Their Implications for Competition Law, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA 2015, 177 - 196.

                    Introduction, in: Josef Drexl et al. (ed.), The Economic Characteristics of Developing Jurisdictions: Their Implications for Competition Law, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA 2015, 1 - 14 (together with Michal Gal).

                      Balancing "Incentive to Innovate" and "Protection of Competition": An African Perspective on Intellectual Property Rights and Competition Law, in: Margo Bagley, Ruth Okedeji (eds.), Patent Law in Global Perspective, Oxford University Press, New York, NY 2014, 515 - 540.

                      • Also published as: Max Planck Institute for Innovation & Competition Research Paper No. 13-11
                      • This paper discusses the interface(s) between IP and Competition Law from a Sub-Saharan Africa perspective. It analyzes the essential facility doctrine raised in the Glaxo Smith Kline case which was settled by the South African Competition Commission against the backdrop of the EU line of case law. This contribution “reopens” the settled case and provides some insights on the legal challenges (and economic implications) that the case would have raised if it had followed the Magill approach with the new product rule for which there is a consumer demand. The EU line of case law seems to emphasize more the need to promote innovation as evidenced by the “innovation surplus” requirement. However, for countries that are importers of technology where local innovation is limited or nonexistent, the “innovation surplus requirement” would be difficult to meet. Access to existing technology or to patented products would therefore be limited. From a consumer-interest perspective of a developing or technology-importing country, access to technology, in some cases, is more relevant than innovation in the first place. In addition to the discussion pertaining to “innovation” and “access”, the paper takes a transversal approach and shed light on the treatment of IP related issues in selected Sub-Saharan African countries competition laws. Suggestions as to how to foster competition law enforcement in IP related restrictions of competition are put forward in the concluding remarks.
                      • Available at SSRN

                      IP, Competition Law and Access to Pharmaceuticals: the Relevance of a "Market Approach" to the Exercise of IPRs, Paper prepared in the framework of the 2013 WTO-WIPO Colloquium for Teachers of Intellectual Property, in: WIPO Academy, WTO Intellectual Property Division (eds.), WIPO-WTO Colloquium Papers - Research Papers from the WIPO-WTO Colloquium for Teachers of Intellectual Property Law, WIPO, Geneva 2014, 69 - 75.

                      Introduction, in: Josef Drexl et al. (ed.), Competition Policy and Regional Integration in Developing Countries, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA 2012, 1 - 10.

                        Institutional coherence and effectiveness of a regional competition policy - the case of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), in: Josef Drexl et al. (ed.), Competition Policy and Regional Integration in Developing Countries, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA 2012, 89 - 115 (together with Julia Molestina).

                          Reflections on the Goals of Competition Law in Developing Countries, in: Daniel Zimmer (ed.), The Goals of Competition Law, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA 2012, 408 - 440.

                          • Event: Fifth ASCOLA Workshop on Comparative Competition LawConference held in Bonn, from May 27-29, 2010, Bonn, 2010-05-27

                          Quelles réformes de droit économique pour le développement de l'Afrique - les défis liés à la prise en compte du social et de l'environnemental, in: Éric Balate, Sévérine Menétrey (eds.), Questions de Droit Économique - Les défis des États Africains, Larcier, Bruxelles 2011, 177 - 195.

                            Journal Articles

                            Principles for Intellectual Property Provisions in Bilateral and Regional Agreements, IIC 44, 8 (2013), 878 - 883 (together with Henning Grosse Ruse-Khan et al.). DOI

                            • For several years, research at the Max Planck Institute for Intellectual
                              Property and Competition Law (MPI) - in collaboration with experts from all over
                              the world - has examined the trend of bilateral and regional agreements that
                              include provisions on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP)
                              rights. By building on this research, the following principles
                              – express core concerns regarding the use of IP provisions as a bargaining chip in
                              international trade negotiations, the increasing comprehensiveness of international IP
                              rules and the lack of transparency and inclusiveness in the negotiating process; and
                              – recommend international rules and procedures that can achieve a better,
                              mutually advantageous and balanced regulation of international IP.
                              These principles emanate from several consultations within the MPI and especially
                              from a workshop that was held with external experts in October 2012 in Munich,
                              Germany. They represent the views of those first signatories and are open to
                              signature by scholars who share the objectives of the Principles.
                            • Institutswebsite

                            Interfacing the 'Local' with the 'Global': A Developing Country Perspective on 'Global Competition', Concurrences 1 (2013), 66 - 76.

                            • Auch als: Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property & Competition Law Research Paper ; No. 13-02
                            • This contribution was prepared for the “Global Competition Law Conference” held at Chicago-Kent College of Law in October 2011. It retraces the recent developments in competition law in Sub-Saharan Africa with a focus on the situation in West Africa. The legal, political, cultural and institutional dimensions which have influenced the development and effectiveness of competition law in the region are discussed. From an international perspective, the contribution retraces the African countries’ role, if any, in the debate pertaining to a multilateral framework on competition law. The paper shares David Gerber´s view that “Africa has generally played at best a marginal role in global competition law development until very recently, but several factors suggest that that role may increase”. Amongst these factors are the potential derived from regionalizing competition policies in Sub- Saharan Africa and the increased cooperation and technical assistance in competition law enforcement as evidenced by the recently created African Competition Forum (ACF). The proposals put forward in “Global Competition” by David Gerber are also discussed from the perspective of Sub-Saharan African countries. In particular, it is argued in this contribution that the “commitment pathway” proposed there is a beneficial approach for developing countries since it would help them fight cross-border anticompetitive practices through a multilateral agreement. Moreover, the proposal respects the diversity of approaches in competition law and the need of developing countries to conceptualize their own competition law models. The phasing out of the norms on the multilateral level would give also developing countries time to learn and to contextualize their competition policies. The pertinence of a multilateral approach is also discussed in light of the recent developments, in particular the shift toward bilateral approaches in dealing with competition matters.
                            • Available at SSRN

                            A Dual Language in Modern Competition Law? - Efficiency Approach versus Development Approach and Implications for Developing Countries, World competition 34, 3 (2011), 495 - 522.

                              Cohérence Institutionnelle et Effectivité d´une Politique Régionale de la Concurrence: le cas de l´Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA), Revue internationale de droit économique 25, 3 (2011), 305 - 332.

                                Perspectives africaines d´une Politique de la Concurrence dans l´espace OHADA, Revue internationale de droit économique 25, 3 (2011), 351 - 378.

                                  Commerce International, Politique de Concurrence et Accords de Partenariat Economique - Réflexions sur les Enjeux et Perspectives d'un Triptyque, GLOCAL - Revue Africaine sur le Commerce et le Développement 2 (2010), 3 - 7.

                                    Delimination and Exercise of Competence Between the West African Economic and Monetary Union and its Member States in Competition Policy, World competition 2006, 653 - 681.

                                      Répartition et exercise des compétences enre l'Union et les Etats membres en droit de la concurrence dans l'Union Economique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine (UEMOA), Revue internationale de droit économique 3 (2005), 319 - 354.

                                        Case notes

                                        The Competition Commission of the West African Economic and Monetary Union finds that Togo infringes regional State aid law by taking actions that favor an undertaking to the detriment of its competitors doing business in the common market (Asky), e-Competitions 52722 (2013).

                                        The Competition Commission of the West African Economic and Monetary Union finds that Senegal infringes the regional competition law by taking actions that foreclose its national market to competition from Ivory Coast raising issues related to the integration process in West Africa (Norme NS-072), e-Competitions 52723 (2013).

                                        Reviews

                                        Review of: Jürgen Basedow and Wolfgang Wurmnest (eds.): Structure and Effects in EU Competition Law, Studies on Exclusionary Conduct and State Aid. Studies on Exclusionary Conduct and State Aid (International Competition Law Series; 47), Kluwer Law International, Alphen aan den Rijn 2011, XV + 343 S., 978-90-411-3174-4, European state aid law quarterly 12, 3 (2013), 617 - 619.

                                          Review of: McEwin, R. Ian (ed.): Intellectual Property, Competition Law and Economics in Asia, Hart Publishing 2011, Oxford and Portland Oregon, 368 S., ISBN 978-1-84946-087-3, IIC 44, 7 (2013), 869 - 872.

                                            Review of: Gerber, David J.: Global Competition - Law, Markets, and Globalization, Oxford University Press, Oxford 2010, XX, 394 S., ISBN 978-0-19-922822-5, IIC 43, 1 (2012), 117 - 120.

                                              Review of: Frison-Roche, Marie-Anne (dir.): Concurrence, Santé Publique, Innovation et Médicament. Collection Droit et Economie, L.G.D.J., Paris 2010, 525 S., ISBN 978-2-275-03505-5, Revue internationale de droit économique 24, 2 (2010), 261 - 264.

                                                Research Papers

                                                Data Governance in Emerging Economies to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals Senegal Country Report Based on the Workshop Shaping Data Sharing Policies in the Agricultural and the Financial Services Sector (Dakar, March 16-17, 2022) (Max Planck Institute for Innovation & Competition Research Paper, No. 24-05), 2024, 91 pp. (together with Begoña Gonzalez Otero et al.).

                                                • The report presented here provides a comprehensive analysis of Senegal's current data governance laws and policies aimed at achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It draws from insights gathered during a two-day multi-stakeholder workshop held in Dakar. This workshop was part of the broader international project titled 'Data Governance in Emerging Economies to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals,' which underscores the growing global recognition of the crucial role of data governance in SDG attainment.
                                                  Structured into four distinct parts, the report provides an exhaustive evaluation of Senegal's regulatory landscape concerning data access and sharing (Part I), laying the groundwork for a detailed examination of the alignment of these regulations with SDGs. It then focuses on the agricultural sector's data-sharing practices and their potential contributions to economic growth and sustainable development (Part II), followed by an exploration of the challenges and opportunities in data governance for financial services in the digital era (Part III). Part IV synthesizes the workshop's discussions, offering valuable insights, conclusions, and forward-looking recommendations.
                                                  This scholarly endeavor contributes significantly to the ongoing discourse surrounding data governance and its pivotal role in realizing the SDGs. The nuanced analysis and insights presented herein serve as a valuable resource for policymakers, academics, and practitioners operating at the intersection of data governance, development, and sustainability. Moreover, the outlined recommendations and prospective research agenda provide a roadmap for our future endeavors aimed at advancing data governance in emerging economies, aligning with the vision of the UN AI Advisory Board to govern AI for humanity.
                                                • Le présent rapport propose une analyse approfondie du cadre réglementaire relatif à la gouvernance des données au Sénégal dans l’optique d’atteindre les Objectifs de Développement Durable des Nations Unies (ODD). Il tire parti des informations et données recueillies lors d'un atelier multipartite de deux jours tenu à Dakar. Cet atelier s'inscrivait dans le cadre du projet international plus large intitulé "Gouvernance des données dans les économies émergentes pour atteindre les Objectifs de développement durable (ODD) ». Le projet met en exergue la reconnaissance croissante du rôle crucial de la gouvernance des données dans la réalisation des ODD à l'échelle mondiale.
                                                  Structuré en quatre parties distinctes, le rapport offre une évaluation approfondie du cadre réglementaire du Sénégal en ce qui concerne l'accès et le partage des données (Partie I), posant ainsi les bases pour un examen détaillé de l'alignement des dispositions légales avec les ODD. Il se concentre ensuite sur les pratiques de partage de données dans le secteur agricole et leur contribution potentielle à la croissance économique et au développement durable (Partie II), suivi d'une exploration des défis et des opportunités de la gouvernance des données pour les services financiers à l'ère numérique (Partie III). La Partie IV synthétise les discussions de l'atelier, offrant des perspectives, des conclusions et des recommandations prospectives.
                                                  Cette étude apporte une contribution significative au débat en cours sur la gouvernance des données et son rôle central dans la réalisation des ODD. L'analyse détaillée et les perspectives présentées ici sont une ressource pour les décideurs, les universitaires et les praticiens qui travaillent sur l'intersection entre la gouvernance des données, le développement et la durabilité. De plus, les recommandations formulées et le programme de recherche prospectif offrent une feuille de route pour les initiatives futures visant à faire progresser la gouvernance des données dans les économies émergentes, s'alignant ainsi sur la vision du Groupe consultatif sur l'IA des Nations unies pour une gouvernance de l’IA au service de l'humanité.
                                                • Available at SSRN

                                                Digital Markets, Mobile Payments Systems and Development – Competition Policy Implications in Developing Countries in Light of the EU Experience (Max Planck Institute for Innovation & Competition Research Paper, No. 18-13), 2018, 43 pp. (together with Jörg Hoffmann, Francisco Beneke).

                                                • The digitization of economic activity has important socio-economic development implications and at the same time creates challenges for antitrust analysis. These implications and challenges have been met differently in jurisdictions around the world. In this paper we analyze the different experiences in the EU and developing countries, focusing on mobile payments. We find that this market exhibits special characteristics that need to be taken into account in the analysis of competition conditions. First, it is enabled by mobile telecommunications infrastructure and is offered by network operators, which causes competition in both markets to be closely linked. Second, there are factors, such as the lack of interoperability and geographical reach, that make network effects in this industry different from those present in other platforms. Third, since mobile payments in developing countries serve a niche—the population underserved by mainstream banking—the definition of the relevant market is not straightforward. We propose the criteria to be applied when making such definition. Finally, since mobile payments have associated financial services, there is an interaction between competition and financial stability that needs to be considered.
                                                • Available at SSRN

                                                Étude sur l´Etat de la Concurrence dans l´Union Économique et Monétaire Ouest Africaine de 2000 à 2017 (Study on the state of competition in the West African Economic and Monetary Union between 2000 and 2017), UEMOA, Ouagadougou 2018, 123 pp. (together with Amadou Dieng).

                                                  Institutional Coherence and Effectivity of a Regional Competition Policy: The Case of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) (Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property & Competition Law Research Paper, No. 11-17 ), 2011, 26 pp. (together with Julia Molestina).

                                                  • In the context of globalization the shift from the national to the global has become an economic reality and advanced the emergence of regional integration groups alongside regional competition policies. In the same vein, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) has adopted a regional competition law, which entered into force in 2003. WAEMU follows a centralized approach to its competition policy, in which the Union not only has the exclusive competence to legislate on anticompetitive practices, but also bears the exclusive decision-making power regarding the enforcement of the law. National competition-law authorities are mainly excluded from the decision-making process and limited to consulting or executive functions. However, the centralized approach is not flawless. The expected reforms in the member states are still pending, the collaboration of national structures and the community is not effective and the regional institutional level, which was supposed to constitute a strong authority, faces severe constraints in terms of resources and flexibility. The regional case law also remains limited. The effectiveness of the community competition law thus far has failed to live up to its expectations. This paper builds on WAEMU’s eight years experience of enforcement as well as other regional integration experiences, such as ECOWAS or the EU, and identifies a certain number of criteria, which should be taken into account when designing a regional competition policy. The so called “competition constraints” are the number of states and the level of integration of the regional market, the fluidity of trade between member states, the respective institutional capacities of the member states and the Union, the existence or lack of a competition culture in the member states and the time dimension. By analyzing the interaction between the competition constraints and the institutional design of a regional competition policy, one can extract certain principles of orientation regarding the applicable substantive law and the distribution of competences. Applying the lessons learned to the case of WAEMU, the insufficient involvement of the national competition law authorities appears as one of the main deficiencies of the institutional framework of WAEMU. Therefore, this paper calls for a “controlled decentralization”, which includes the installation of a new collaboration framework between the regional and the national level.
                                                  • Available at SSRN

                                                  Etude sur la Révision du Cadre Institutionnel de Mise en Oeuvre des Règles de Concurrence de l'UEMOA, 2011, 250 pp.

                                                    Trips, Patent Rights and Right to Health - "Price" or "Prize" for better access to medicine (Max Planck Institute for Intellectual Property, Competition & Tax Law Research Paper Series, No. 10-07), 2009, 51 pp.

                                                    • The interface between ‘patent rights’ and ‘right to health’ has been one of the most hotly debated issues in the international arena in the past years. By recognizing ‘flexibilities’ to the enforcement of patent rights, the TRIPS agreement aims at reconciling the interests of the patent owners with those of the consumers. However TRIPS has been criticized as not being flexible enough for developing countries facing acute health issues. Although the developments in the framework of Doha could be considered a ‘victory’ for developing countries towards improved access to medicine, extrinsic factors to TRIPS, such as the so called “TRIPS-Plus” agreements and the United States political involvement through the “Special 301”, constitute strong barriers to access to medicine in developing countries. Finding a fair balance between patent rights and rights to health in these conditions is not an easy task. In an attempt to reconcile patent rights and right to health different solutions have been considered. The ‘price’ and ‘prize’ ideas are amongst them. The differential pricing scheme is framed on the idea of a differential pricing of patented medicine between developed and developing countries. As to the ‘prize’ solution, it involves a change in the current patent system rationale. Instead of 20 years monopoly, inventors would be rewarded in a form of ‘monetary prize’ depending on the impact of the invention on the improvement of public health. Even though the rationale and the purpose of these solutions are in line with the need of improving the health conditions in developing countries, they both embody intrinsic limits. The ‘price’ solution leaves unsolved the orphan diseases question. As to the ‘prize’ solution, many issues regarding its implementation still need to be addressed. The ‘price’ and ‘prize’ solutions have not been always considered separately. For instance the Medial Innovation Prize Act of 2005, although based on the “prize” idea, left open the possibility of getting a patent. Leaving the door opened to the possibility of getting a patent would render the “prize” idea more appealing to the pharmaceutical industry. This paper discuss the issues of access to medicine with regard to the developments in the international area first, and, second, defend the idea of a coexistence of the current patent system and the reward system in a form of ‘prize’. Neither the ‘price’ nor the ‘prize’ idea ends the patent system. They constitute alternatives aiming at remedying the drawbacks of strong patent protection. Depending on the type of diseases at hand the ‘price’ solution or the ‘prize’ may be more suitable. For instance, the Type I diseases, (diabetes, heart disease, asthma and most non-communicable diseases) according to the classification of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Commission on Intellectual Property, Innovation and Public Health (“CIPIH”), which affect both developed and developing countries, the ‘price’ solution could be suitable. For types II and III diseases (e.g. Tuberculosis, AIDS, and Malaria) which primarily affect developing countries, a ‘prize’ system could give more R&D incentive to pharmaceutical companies.
                                                    • Available at SSRN

                                                    Lectures

                                                    12/09/19

                                                    Intellectual Property, Competition Law and Access to Medicines

                                                    Organized by: Global Forum on Intellectual Property, Access to Medicines and Innovation
                                                    Location: Munich


                                                    10/29/19

                                                    La sécurisation et valorisation des actifs immatériels à l'ère de l'open innovation

                                                    Organized by: Dakar Legal Tech Forum
                                                    Location: Dakar, Senegal


                                                    07/10/19

                                                    Making Markets Work for Africa, Markets, Development and Competition Law in Sub-Saharan Africa

                                                    Organized by: UNCTAD Research Partnership Platform (RPP)
                                                    Location: Geneva, Switzerland


                                                    07/08/19

                                                    Digitalization and International Economic Policy: Tax, Competition, Trade and Investment - Workshop

                                                    Organized by: World Economic Forum
                                                    Location: Geneva, Switzerland


                                                    11/18

                                                    Regional Competition Agreements (RCAs) in Sub-Saharan Africa: Promises and Pitfalls

                                                    OECD Global Forum on Competition
                                                    Location: Paris, France


                                                    02/18

                                                    Pricing of Pharmaceuticals: Between IP, Competition (Law) and Regulation

                                                    6th MIPLC Alumni Conference, “The World of IP Caught Between Globalism and Nationalism”
                                                    Location: Munich


                                                    11/21/17

                                                    The Informal Economy and the Competition Dynamics in Developing Countries

                                                    International seminar on "Competition Law and Economic Development: a Universal Solution"
                                                    Organized by: The Superintendencia de Competencia
                                                    Location: El Salvador


                                                    02/21/17

                                                    The Interface Between IPRs and Competition Law: An Introduction

                                                    Workshop organized by the Gambian Competition Authority
                                                    Location: Gambia


                                                    02/21/17

                                                    Competition law and Policy in Developing Countries: Exploring the "Development" Dimension of Competition Law

                                                    Workshop organized by the Gambian Competition Authority
                                                    Location: Gambia


                                                    12/09/16

                                                    Regional Perspectives on Tools for Competition Effectiveness on Regional Level: Case Studies on Coordinated Conducts - WAEMU and the Gambia

                                                    Workshop on strengthening competition in West Africa
                                                    Organized by the World Bank, 8-9, December 2016
                                                    Location: Dakar, Senegal


                                                    12/08/16

                                                    Regional Perspective on Competition Policy: Panel Discussion on the World Bank/ACF RepLocation: "Breaking Down Barriers: Unlocking Africa´s Potential Through Vigorous Competition Policy"

                                                    Workshop on strengthening competition in West Africa
                                                    Organized by the World Bank, 8-9, December 2016.
                                                    Location: Dakar, Senegal


                                                    12/08/16

                                                    Regional Perspectives on tools for Competition Policy Effectiveness on Regional Level,

                                                    Workshop on strengthening competition in West Africa, organized by the world bank, Dakar, Senegal, 8-9, December 2016.
                                                    Location: Dakar, Senegal


                                                    10/19/16

                                                    Improving the Access to Affordable Medicine in Developing and LDCs: Between Regulation and Competition

                                                    7th Conference of the Research Partnership Platform (RPP), UNCTAD (together with Sven Gallash)
                                                    Location: Geneva, Switzerland


                                                    10/11/16

                                                    The Innovation Process and Potential Distortions of Competition

                                                    MPI workshop on Innovation and Competition, Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition(together with Beatriz Conde Gallego)
                                                    Location: Munich


                                                    06/20/16

                                                    Competition Law and Policy in Developing Countries: Exploring the "Development" Dimension of Competition Law

                                                    Lecture, Philipps University Marburg
                                                    Location: Marburg


                                                    06/08/16

                                                    Approaching Competition Law as a Pro-Development Policy: Promises and Challenges

                                                    Symposium in honor of the scholarship of Professor Eleanor Fox
                                                    Location: Brussels, Belgium


                                                    01/07/16

                                                    Precedent, Stare Decisis & and Introduction to Using Precedent in Common Law

                                                    Lecture, University of Münster
                                                    Location: Münster


                                                    7/10/15

                                                    The Economic Characteristics of Developing Jurisdictions: Their Implications for Competition Law

                                                    6th Conference of the Research Partnership Platform (RPP), UNCTAD
                                                    Location: Geneva, Switzerland


                                                    05/22/15

                                                    Abuse Without Dominance in Competition Law: Abuse of Economic Dependence and its Interface with Abuse of Dominance

                                                    10th ASCOLA Conference, Meji University
                                                    Location: Tokyo, Japan


                                                    10/06/14

                                                    The Development Dimension of Competition Law and Policy: A Sub-Saharan Africa Perspective

                                                    Emile Noel Fellow Workshop
                                                    Jean Monnet Center for International and Regional Economic Law and Justice
                                                    Location: New York University School of Law, USA


                                                    04/14 - 04/15/14

                                                    TRIPs and Competition Policy: From Transfer of Technology to Innovation Polic

                                                    Workshop on TRIPS '94+20: Beyond Trade Rules
                                                    Organized by: Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition
                                                    Location: Munich


                                                    12/19/13

                                                    Interfacing Public Sector Information and Competition Policy from a development perspective

                                                    Communication at the conference on "Open Data in Transition: Intellectual Property, Competition Policy and Regulatory Issues"
                                                    Organized by: Trento University
                                                    Location: Trento, Italy


                                                    12/08/13

                                                    Competition Policy and Regional Integration in Developing Countries

                                                    Communication at the Asian Competition Forum 9th Annual Conference
                                                    Location: Hong Kong


                                                    11/15/13

                                                    Designing Global Competition Policy: Between Co-operation and Convergence

                                                    Invited paper presented at a seminar of the Center for Development Research
                                                    Organized by: Trento University
                                                    Location: Trento, Italy


                                                    06/21/13

                                                    The interface between Intellectual Property Rights and Competition Law: An African Perspective

                                                    Communication at the WIPO/WTO Colloquium for Teachers of Intellectual Property
                                                    Location: Geneva, Switzerland


                                                    11/27/12
                                                    Le droit et la politique de concurrence de l´UEMOA: opportunités et défis
                                                    Forum Régional de la Concurrence de l´UEMOA
                                                    Location: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso


                                                    10/10 - 10/12/12
                                                    Présentation du rapport final de l´Etude sur la révision du cadre institutionnel de mise en œuvre des règles de concurrence de l´UEMOA
                                                    Réunion du Comité Consultatif de la Concurrence de l´UEMOA
                                                    Location: Dakar, Senegal


                                                    10/09/12
                                                    Présentation du rapport final de l´Etude sur la révision du cadre institutionnel de mise en œuvre des règles de concurrence de l´UEMOA
                                                    Atelier de partage de l´Etude sur la révision du cadre institutionnel de mise en œuvre des règles de concurrence de l´UEMOA
                                                    Location: Dakar, Senegal


                                                    07/30/12
                                                    Approaching the ‘innovation paradigm’ from the perspective of the market: on the interface ‘incentive to innovate’ and ‘freedom to compete’
                                                    ATRIP Congress
                                                    Location: Chicago, USA


                                                    06/10/ - 06/11/12
                                                    Creating a Competition Law for Developing Jurisdictions
                                                    Workshop on "Economic Characteristics of Developing Jurisdictions and Their Effect on Competition Law"
                                                    Organized by: University of Haifa School of Law
                                                    Location: Haifa, Israel


                                                    12/19/11
                                                    Regional Integration and Competition Policy in West African States: Promises and Challenges
                                                    Workshop on "Economic Characteristics of Developing Jurisdictions and Their Effect on Competition Law"
                                                    Location: Banjul, Gambia


                                                    12/19/11
                                                    Revisiting the Basics of Competition Law and Policy from a Development Perspective
                                                    Communication at the training seminar for the Legal Fraternity
                                                    Location: Banjul, Gambia


                                                    12/15/11
                                                    Applying Competition Law and Policy in a Global Context
                                                    Communication at the training seminar for the Staff of the Gambia Competition Commission
                                                    Location: Banjul, Gambia


                                                    12/15/11
                                                    The States and Competition Law: How to Catch States Anticompetitive Behaviors?
                                                    Communication at the training seminar for the Staff of the Gambia Competition Commission
                                                    Location: Banjul, Gambia


                                                    12/14/11
                                                    The Gambia and the Implementation of the New ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority
                                                    Communication at the training seminar for the Staff of the Gambia Competition Commission
                                                    Location: Banjul, Gambia


                                                    12/14/11
                                                    Introduction to Regional Integration and Competition Policy in Developing Countries
                                                    Communication at the training seminar for the Staff of the Gambia Competition Commission
                                                    Location: Banjul, Gambia


                                                    12/13/11
                                                    Assessment of Abuse of Dominance: Applying the Test with Perspective
                                                    Communication at the training seminar for the Staff of the Gambia Competition Commission
                                                    Location: Banjul, Gambia


                                                    12/13/11
                                                    Dealing with Cartels: Overview of the Enforcement Approach
                                                    Communication at the training seminar for the Staff of the Gambia Competition Commission
                                                    Location: Banjul, Gambia


                                                    12/12/11
                                                    Enforcing Competition Law and Policy in a small (developing) Market Economy: the key issues to consider
                                                    Communication at the training seminar for the Staff of the Gambia Competition Commission
                                                    Location: Banjul, Gambia


                                                    12/12/11
                                                    Revisiting the Basics of Competition Law and Policy from a Development Perspective
                                                    Communication at the training seminar for the Staff of the Gambia Competition Commission
                                                    Location: Banjul, Gambia


                                                    07/22/11
                                                    The Political Economy of Competition Policy
                                                    2nd seminar UNCTAD Research Partnership Platform (RPP)
                                                    Location: Geneva, Switzerland


                                                    05/17/11
                                                    Regional Institutional Design and Competition Law Enforcement: Exploring the West African Experience
                                                    Communication, IDRC Pre-ICN Forum on Competition and Development
                                                    Location: The Hague, Netherlands


                                                    04/14/11
                                                    Trends in IP protection and enforcement and their interface with Competition Law and Policy
                                                    Communication at the WIPO Regional Seminar on Intellectual Property and Competition Policy in cooperation with the Competition Commission of South Africa
                                                    Location: Johannesburg, South Africa


                                                    04/14/11
                                                    The Interface between IP and Competition Law: An African Perspective
                                                    Communication at the WIPO Regional Seminar on Intellectual Property and Competition Policy in cooperation with the Competition Commission of South Africa
                                                    Location: Johannesburg, South Africa


                                                    04/08/11
                                                    UEMOA and the New ECOWAS Competition Authority: Promises and Pitfalls
                                                    Communication Roundtable on Competition Law for Heads of Competition Authorities from the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Region
                                                    Organized by: Harvard Law School
                                                    Location: Boston, USA


                                                    03/01/11
                                                    Interfacing competition law/policy and development: a developing country perspective
                                                    Communication at the 1st African Competition Forum (ACF)
                                                    Location: Nairobi, Kenia


                                                    11/06/10
                                                    Comments on the communication on "La place des droits coutumiers dans les législations foncières au Sahel – une analyse comparative de la législation foncière au Burkina Faso, au Mali et au Niger"
                                                    Conference on Formal / Informal Law and Economic Development in Africa
                                                    organized by the African Law Association and the Institute of African Studies at the Universität Leipzig
                                                    Location: Leipzig


                                                    11/02/10
                                                    Issues and Challenges in Regionalizing ECOWAS´ Competition Policy
                                                    Communication at the Regional Workshop on the Establishment of a Regional Competition Authority (RCA) in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
                                                    Organized by: The International Institute for Advanced Studies (IIAS) and sponsored by the European Development Fund
                                                    Location: Accra, Ghana


                                                    11/01/10
                                                    The Role of Competition Law in Regional Integration
                                                    Communication at the Regional Workshop on the Establishment of a Regional Competition Authority (RCA) in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
                                                    Organized by: The International Institute for Advanced Studies (IIAS) and sponsored by the European Development Fund
                                                    Location: Accra, Ghana


                                                    10/23/10
                                                    Perspectives de la politique de la concurrence dans l´espace OHADA
                                                    Communication at the seminar organized by the "Institut Euro-Africain de Droit Economique (INEADEC)" with the collaboration of the Max Planck Institute
                                                    Location: Yaoundé, Cameroon


                                                    09/02/10
                                                    A dual language in modern competition law? "Efficiency approach" versus "development approach" and implications for developing countries
                                                    Communication at the 4th Annual Conference on “Competition Law, Economics and Policy”
                                                    Organized by: The South African Competition Commission, the Competition Tribunal and Mandela Institute, School of Law of the University of the Witwatersrand
                                                    Location: Johannesburg, South Africa


                                                    11/19/10
                                                    Competition law and the “efficiency/development” dilemma in developing countries
                                                    Communication at the workshop on “Innovation, Creativity and IP Policy, and Indo-European Dialogue at the WB National University of Juridical Sciences
                                                    Location: Kolkata, India


                                                    07/23/10
                                                    Regional Integration and Competition Law in Developing Countries
                                                    Presentation before the “Fachbeirat”
                                                    Organized by: Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition
                                                    Location: Munich


                                                    07/14/10
                                                    Regional Integration and Competition Law in Developing Countries
                                                    Presentation of the project “Competition law in Developing Countries” before the “Kuratorium”
                                                    Organized by: Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition
                                                    Location: Munich


                                                    07/11/ - 07/13/10
                                                    Comment on the communication on the competition policy of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU or UEMOA in French)
                                                    Workshop on “Regional Integration and Competition Policy in Developing Countries”
                                                    Organized by: Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition
                                                    Location: Frauenchiemsee


                                                    05/29/10
                                                    Reflections on the Goals of Competition Law in Developing Countries
                                                    Communication at the 5th ASCOLA Conference on the "Goals of Competition Law"
                                                    Location: Bonn


                                                    10/27/2007
                                                    Issues and Challenges in Regionalizing Competition Policies in Developing Countries: Lessons from Africa
                                                    Presentation at seminar on competition law in developing countries
                                                    the New York University School of Law / Max Planck Institute
                                                    Location: New York, USA

                                                    Courses

                                                    2017

                                                    Course on "Competition Law in Emerging Markets"

                                                    Organized by: MIPLC

                                                    Location: Munich, Germany


                                                    2017

                                                    Course on "IP and Public Health"

                                                    Organized by: WIPO/Yaoundé II/OAPI

                                                    Location: Yaoundé, Cameroon


                                                    2016

                                                    Course on "Competition Law in Emerging Markets"

                                                    Organized by: MIPLC

                                                    Location: Munich, Germany


                                                    2016

                                                    Course on "IP and Public Health"

                                                    Organized by: WIPO/Yaoundé II/OAPI

                                                    Location: Yaoundé, Cameroon


                                                    2015

                                                    Course on "Competition Law in Emerging Markets"

                                                    Organized by: MIPLC

                                                    Location: Munich, Germany


                                                    2015

                                                    Course on "IP and Public Health"

                                                    Organized by: WIPO/Yaoundé II/OAPI

                                                    Location: Yaoundé, Cameroon


                                                    2014

                                                    Course on “Competition Law in Emerging Markets”

                                                    Organized by: MIPLC

                                                    Location: Munich, Germany


                                                    2014

                                                    Course on “IP and Public Health”

                                                    Master on IP
                                                    Organized by: WIPO / Yaounde II / OAPI

                                                    Location: Yaoundé, Cameroon


                                                    April 2013

                                                    Course on IP and Public Health

                                                    Master Program on IP (WIPO, OAPI, University of Yaoundé)
                                                    Organized by: University of Yaoundé

                                                    Location: Youndé, Cameroon

                                                    Participation in projects

                                                    Coordinator of the MPI project on "Competition Law in Developing Countries"