Publication: Standard Oil as a Technological Innovator
Loading...
Open/View Files
Date
2011
Authors
Published Version
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
The Harvard community has made this article openly available. Please share how this access benefits you.
Citation
Scherer, F.M. 2011. Standard Oil as a Technological Innovator. HKS Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP11-008, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
Abstract
A century ago, in 1911, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its path-breaking decision in the monopolization case against the Standard Oil Companies. Standard pleaded inter alia that its near-monopoly position was the result of superior innovation, citing in particular the Frasch-Burton process for refining the high-sulphur oil found around Lima, Ohio. This paper examines the role of Hermann Frasch in inventing and developing the desulphurization process, showing that Standard failed to recognize his inventive genius when he was its employee and purchased his rights and services only after he had applied the technique in his own Canadian company.
Description
Other Available Sources
Research Data
Keywords
MBG - Markets, Business, and Government, Regulatory Policy
Terms of Use
This article is made available under the terms and conditions applicable to Other Posted Material (LAA), as set forth at Terms of Service