This research explores how provincial governments in Canada can foster environmental leadership in business firms, and develops a framework to guide provincial policy and regulatory decisions with respect to environmental leadership. The research question is: How can provincial governments in Canada support environmental leadership in businesses? Environmental leadership is defined as voluntary beyond compliance behaviour. In order to answer the research question, what motivates and challenges environmental leadership must also be explored. Three case studies are used in this research: the electronics extended producer responsibility (EPR), marine and agriculture sectors. Data was collected through surveys and interviews with businesses, officials and organizations in each of the case studies. The focus is on British Columbia, although data was also collected from other Canadian provinces. Results demonstrate that the electronics EPR sector is characterized by compliance and coordination issues: businesses focus on meeting rather than exceeding regulations, and they identified a strong need for improved harmonization and coordination between jurisdictions on EPR regulations. The marine sector is characterized by businesses taking matters into their own hands, due to weak regulations accompanied by strong community pressures. The agriculture sector is characterized as one of contestation and capacity: contestation over what is environmental leadership (whether or not it requires beyond compliance steps such as organic certification), and capacity concerns, due to the high need identified for support, education and training for farmers. Five themes cut across the three case studies. First, environmental leadership is an ongoing process rather than a relatively fixed category in which businesses can be placed. Second, although social licence is important in all three cases, the licence comes from different sectors of society: consumers, community or citizens. In the electronics EPR sector, the social licence pressures come primarily from customers; in the marine sector, from communities; and in the agriculture sector, from citizens as a whole, comprised of both customers of agricultural products and communities that live near farms. Third, corporate culture or visionary leadership is important in driving environmental leadership. Fourth, a need exists for greater leadership by government, by strategic planning, taking advantage of new markets, resolving conflicts, greater harmonization and coordination of regulations. Fifth, continuous learning within a firm is important in environmental leadership, be it through formal training, sharing of expertise and knowledge, or through ongoing reflection on business practices. Key policy implications are that provincial governments use a broader mix of regulatory tools: accompanying stringent standards with training and education; support for transition to greener technologies or processes; and public education on the purpose of regulations, how they work, and the role of all sectors of society in achieving social goals. Cross government cooperation and harmonization of regulations could be improved, especially in the electronics EPR sector. The results of this research should assist in identifying ways for government to foster environmental leadership in businesses, through new approaches to governance and selection of policy instruments. / Graduate

La thèse porte sur l'effet de politiques publiques visant à agir sur le fonctionnement concurrentiel des marchés, en traitant une question de politique de la concurrence et une question de régulation sectorielle. La première partie de la thèse porte sur le contrôle des concentrations : elle examine tout d'abord les effets des concentrations sur les prix des biens produits, avant de rendre endogène la décision de l'autorité de concurrence. Un premier article examine si l'un des objectifs justifiant l'existence d'un contrôle de la concurrence - l'amélioration du surplus des consommateurs - est bien atteint en pratique dans le cas du contrôle des concentrations, par l'estimation empirique de l'effet des concentrations sur les prix des biens et services vendus dans les secteurs concernés, à partir de données françaises multisectorielles. Dans un deuxième article, la prise de décision d'une autorité de concurrence est examinée, par une analyse empirique des déterminants des avis du Conseil de la concurrence en matière de concentration. La seconde partie de la thèse porte sur un problème de régulation : comment les restrictions à la libre entrée sont valorisées par les acteurs présents sur le marché, du fait des profits anticipés, et quels sont les déterminants de cette valeur. Cette question est examinée dans deux situations : tout d'abord, la valorisation des fréquences du " dividende numérique ", qui sont libérées par l'extinction de la diffusion analogique de la télévision ; ensuite, la valeur d'une licence de taxi, dont l'élasticité au nombre de licences attribuées est estimée.

This diploma thesis focuses on the methodology introduction of master franchise. In a particular market Czech Republic and market with car services specifies the steps in the implementation of new licenses on the market. It also contains specific business plan drawn up directly to the network service stations operating under one brand.

The theme of this thesis is to analyze current technological trends with a focus on open source software in terms of relevance and importance for enterprises. The main objective is to evaluate the current status of open source software for Czech enterprises and characterize the progress based on data from 2010 and 2015. The thesis describes the basic forms of software used by companies which are further categorized based on the functionality and usability. The specifics of open source software and its licenses are defined. Subsequently the selection of specific open source licenses, generally perceived views on their use and the status of open source software in various stages of its existence are described. Analytical part describes the results of the author's survey in Czech enterprises in terms of open source software application for 2015. The results are compared with data from 2010 and appropriate conclusions are defined. Finally, the hypotheses are connected with the results of the author's survey, data comparison, available open source methodologies and other sources for an overall assessment of the situation in the Czech Republic.

Diploma thesis Design of software asset management tasks is focused on area of software asset management in business sector. In a time of still accelerating development of information and communication technologies is Software asset management (SAM) important component of ICT business management. Financial risks of failure to comply licensing terms or rules of licensing often exceed the value of owned software. However, the essence of SAM is not only in eliminating the financial risks, but also in enhancing ICT security or gaining competitive advantage while respecting the SAM principles. Main goal of this thesis is to analyze software asset management and design tasks to reference model of ICT management MBI. This theses is divided into two parts. First part characterizes SAM, licensing and related topics. First part is based on specialized sources and information from literary research. The output is a comprehensive summary of this issue, which serves as theoretical base for next part of this thesis. Second part is devoted to designing the task of Software asset management, the task of Software audit and defining its links to other objects in the MBI model. Furthermore, this thesis creates new objects like roles, methods or documents. Second part is based on theoretical base which was created in the first part and from consultations with IT field experts. The outputs are tasks which are implemented in the MBI model. Goal is fulfilled after creating these outputs. The benefits of this thesis are mostly the tasks extending MBI model and offering best practice for software asset management and software audit. Outcomes of this thesis should help users of reference model and IT community in general.

Presented diploma thesis deals with creation of a business plan, It is devided into three main parts – theoretical, analythical and practical. The theoretical part is dedicated to explain all related terms and legal aspects of the business. Next part includes all necesarry analyses for creation of a business plan. Last part of this thesis introduces the concept for establishment of recruitment agency.

This thesis presents the elemental properties and principles in graphical user interface. It then shows how one can work with a graphical user interface on GNU/Linux operating system and gives some examples of toolkits used for this purpose. The next part shows the design of an aplication based on an existing anti-virus program. The last part shows the dierences between the two implementations of the designed application.

Le problème posé par les brevets dans le secteur de la santé, notamment dans l’accès aux nouveaux médicaments par les populations à faibles revenus des pays en développement, s’est posé après l’entrée en vigueur de l’Accord sur les ADPIC, dans la foulée de la création de l’OMC, en janvier 1995. Bien que cette question soit connue et documentée, les solutions proposées n’ont pas permis de la résoudre. Cette thèse soutient que l’approche adoptée jusqu’ici qui est essentiellement fondée sur l’idée d’aide publique au développement ou sur des considérations éthiques n’est pas appropriée pour y apporter une réponse adéquate et efficace. Elle propose donc de changer de paradigme et d’analyser la question sous une autre approche, celle des biens publics mondiaux. En partant de la définition et des caractéristiques de ce concept, elle montre que les données brevetées rentrent dans cette catégorie de biens. À partir de cette conclusion, elle suggère que la résolution de ce problème passe par le financement des brevets et de la recherche médicale par des fonds publics internationaux. Ainsi, les brevets portant sur les inventions les plus innovants seraient rachetés par un mécanisme international institué à cette fin et dont les ressources proviendraient de la participation de tous, comme pour les biens publics nationaux. Cette proposition s’appuie sur des précédents. En effet, bien qu’il soit encore à ses débuts, le financement international des biens publics mondiaux est un mécanisme qui se met en place et semble convaincre les pays, notamment dans le domaine de l’environnement, de la nécessité de gérer collectivement le problème du réchauffement climatique. Avec l’internationalisation de plus en plus croissante des épidémies dans le sillage de la circulation mondialisée des biens et des personnes, la lutte internationalisée contre ces épidémies se présente aussi comme un impératif parce que la communauté de la menace est évidente. Cependant, l’opérationnalisation de cette lutte est confrontée à certaines difficultés, étant donné qu’il n’existe pas d’autorité supranationale pour assurer la participation de tous à cet effort. Comme sur le plan interne, ce sont ces problèmes de gestion de l’action collective que l’humanité doit contrôler dans le but de répondre efficacement aux défis auxquels elle doit faire face. Mots clés : accès aux médicaments, brevets, biens publics mondiaux, Accord sur les ADPIC, fonds internationaux, licences obligatoires, pays en développement. / The problem posed by patents in the healthcare sector, in particular in the access to new medicine by the low-income populations of developing countries, has arose after the coming into force of the TRIPS Agreement, following the creation of the WTO in january 1995. Although the question is known and documented, the proposed solutions did not allow solving it. This thesis supports that the approach adopted up to here which is essentially based on the idea of public aid in the development or on the ethical considerations is not adequate. It thus suggests changing paradigm and analyzing the question under another approach, that of the concept of the global public goods. After analyzing the definition and the characteristics of this concept, the thesis concludes that the patented data go into this category of the global public goods. From this conclusion, it suggests that the resolution of this problem passes by the financing of these world public goods by international public money. So, patents concerning the most innovative inventions would be acquired by an international mechanism established to this end and the resources of which would come from the participation of all, as for the national public goods. Although it is still in its early stages, the international financing of the global public goods is a mechanism which is set up, in particular in the field of the environment to manage collectively the problem of the global warming. With the more and more increasing internationalization of the epidemics in the trail of the globalized flows of goods and people, the common fight against these epidemics appears from now as an obvious fact. However, the implementation of this fight is confronted with certain difficulties, given that there is no supranational authority to assure the participation of all in this effort. As on the internal plan, it is these problems of the collective action that the humanity has to control in order to manage effectively the challenges which it has to face. Key words: Access to medicine, patents, world public goods, TRIPS Agreement, international funds, the compulsory licenses, developing countries.

The licence is a regulatory tool that regulatory use to assist in their regulatory functions. Licences restricts operator’s’ functions, but also serve as a guideline of acceptable conduct because a licence is a legally binding document containing prescribed conditions that the licencee must meet. If the licencee does not comply with these prescribed obligations and requirements, the licence may be revoked or the licencee may be penalized (Bladwin & Cave 1999). However, in order fro the mechanism of issuing a licence to be an effective mechanism of regulation, the regulator needs to regulate effectively in order to ensure that the licencee’s performance is of acceptable standard. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between issuing a licence and the licencee’s performance; to investigate whether the performance indicators, as defined by ICASA, are adequate, and to develop appropriate performance indicators in order to evaluate Cell C’s performance. Issuing a licence to licencee does not guarantee that the performance of the licencee, such as Cell C, will be effective. Thus, the licencee needs to be evaluated. The case study design has been used for this project. The methodology includes in-dept interviews, documentary analysis, and implementation evaluation research. The report concludes that Cell C has met its licence obligations, that licencing is coupled with effective mechanisms to ensure that the licencee complies with performance requirements, but that, in order for the licencee to improve its performance, effective regulatory intervention is needed. / Communication Science / MA (International Communication)

<p>The purpose of this thesis is to describe and analyse the significance of economic thinking and arguments in the treatment of licence agreements in EC competition law. A central question is to what degree the concept of competition in EC law reflects an economically realistic approach to competition. The study also investigates to what degree the economic functioning of intellectual property is considered in competition regulation and how much the economic functioning of the licence agreement is considered. The investigation mainly consists of a comparative analysis of EC competition law and American antitrust law concerning the economic arguments and their importance. The treatment of territorial restrictions, field of use restrictions, quantity clauses, tie-outs, tie-ins, grant back, no-challenge clauses and price restrictions are of special interest here. </p><p>This study shows that an economically realistic view of competition has influenced current EC competition law, especially in the Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (TTBER). Exceptions from this development in the EC law are mainly due to the goal of integration of the common market. Territorial restrictions are strictly regulated in the TTBER even when the parties’ market shares are below the market thresholds defined in the regulation.</p><p>The function of intellectual property rights are not much considered in EC competition law but there are general remarks about the economic functioning of patents in the Guidelines for the TTBER. However, it is difficult to find evidence for economic reasoning about patents in the formation of concrete rules. On the contrary, patents are weakened by the widened concept of exhaustion presented in the Guidelines.</p><p>The economic functioning of the licence agreement is considered in the rules of TTBER and the economic arguments for clauses which create incentives for making investments or give the possibility of control are acknowledged. However, the free riding argument has a weak position when applied to territorial restrictions, which are more formalistically regulated.</p><p>The EC competition law has become more similar to American antitrust law. The decisive difference consists in the judicial treatment of territorial restrictions, where the goal of integration is still of central importance in EC law.</p>