The regulation and flow of information continues to have a critical impact upon how people live their lives and the way society functions. In recent times, disinformation and privacy violation have become the 'information pollution' of the 21st century. This book explores ways and means of protecting the 'information environment' by drawing upon four theories of contemporary environmentalism: welfare economics, the commons, ecology, and public choice theory. Welfare economics highlights the need to focus on costs (as well as benefits) when evaluating regulatory structures. The commons encourages queries about the validity of propertisation. Ecology speaks to the importance of diversity and resilience. And public choice theory hazards against the regulatory effect of concentrated interests. The lessons from each inspire the proposed information environmental governance framework. By neatly capturing the metaphorical relationship between the physical environment and the information environment, Robert Cunningham explores progressive regulatory pathways for the digital age. This book will be a thought-provoking read for scholars and students with an interest in intellectual property or the regulation of information.

The world of intellectual property (patents, trade marks, copyrights, et cetera) is becoming increasingly international. More and more frequently, disputes about intellectual property have an international character. This inevitably raises questions of private international law: which national court is competent to adjudicate an international dispute of this kind? And which national law should be applied to an international case of this kind? Since the 1990s, the first question in particular has attracted attention; in recent years, the focus has shifted to the second question: which national law is applicable? Opinions differ widely on this matter today. The controversy focuses on the question whether the Berne Convention and the Paris Convention, the two most important treaties on intellectual property, contain a rule that designates the applicable law. In other words: do these treaties contain a 'conflict-of-law rule' as it is called? This question, which concerns nearly all countries in the world, is nowadays considered to be 'heftig umstritten' (fiercely contested) and 'tres difficile' (very difficult). And that is where we come across something strange: today it may be fiercely contested whether these treaties contain a conflict-of-law rule, but in the past, for the nineteenth-century authors of these treaties, it was perfectly self-evident that these treaties contain a conflict-of-law rule, namely in the 'principle of national treatment' as it is called. How is that possible? These are the fundamental questions at the heart of this book: does the principle of national treatment in the Berne Convention and the Paris Convention contain a conflict-of-law rule? And if so, why do we no longer understand this conflict-of-law rule today? This book is an English translation of Sierd J. Schaafsma's groundbreaking book, which appeared in Dutch in 2009 (now updated with the most significant case law and legislation). Key features include: provides deep insight into the current state of affairs in international intellectual property law extensive and groundbreaking analysis of the principle of national treatment in the Berne Convention and the Paris Convention detailed and authoritative explanation of the intersection of the conflicts of law and intellectual property law.

The first part of this open access book sets out to re-examine some basic principles of trade negotiation, such as choosing the right representatives to negotiate and enhancing transparency as a cure to the public's distrust against trade talks. Moreover, it analyses how the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) might impact on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership's (RCEP) IP chapter and examines the possible norm setters of Asian IP. It then focuses on the People's Republic of China's (PRC) trade and IP strategy against the backdrop of the power games between the PRC, India and the US. The second part of the book reflects on issues related to investor-state dispute settlement and its relationship with IP, such as how to re-calibrate the balance in international investment arbitration, and whether compulsory license of IP constitutes expropriation in India, the PRC and select ASEAN countries. The third part of the book questions and strives to improve some of the proposed IP provisions of CPTPP and RCEP and to redefine some aspects of international IP norms, such as: pre-grant patent opposition and experimental use exception; patent term extension; patent linkage and data exclusivity for the pharmaceutical sector; plant variety protection; pre-established damages for copyright infringement; and the restructuring of copyright limitations in the public interest. The open access edition of this book is available under a CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 licence on www.bloomsburycollections.com. Open access was funded by the Applied Research Centre for Intellectual Assets and the Law in Asia, School of Law, Singapore Management University.

Elgar Advanced Introductions are stimulating and thoughtful introductions to major fields in the social sciences and law, expertly written by the world's leading scholars. Designed to be accessible yet rigorous, they offer concise and lucid surveys of the substantive and policy issues associated with discrete subject areas. Presenting a concise, yet wide-ranging and contemporary overview of the field, this Advanced Introduction to Privacy Law focuses on how we arrived at our privacy laws, and how the law can deal with new and emerging challenges from digital technologies, social networks and public health crises. This illuminating and interdisciplinary book demonstrates how the history of privacy law has been one of constant adaptation to emerging challenges, illustrating the primacy of the right to privacy amidst a changing social and cultural landscape. Key features include: Incisive analysis of the meaning and value of privacy and the ways in which legal, social and economic institutions respond to our understanding of privacy in contemporary society A uniquely concise, contextual approach to privacy law, examining privacy as a constantly evolving social phenomenon and the legal implications of its mutability Historical and comparative insights into privacy and data protection laws across the common law world. This richly detailed book is an informative and thought-provoking resource for students, academics and practitioners of privacy and data protection law. Its interdisciplinary insights will also appeal to those working in legal history, media and cultural studies, economics and political science.

Patent holders are increasingly making voluntary, public commitments to limit the enforcement and other exploitation of their patents. The best-known form of patent pledge is the so-called FRAND commitment, in which a patent holder commits to license patents to manufacturers of standardized products on terms that are ''fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory.'' Patent pledges have also been appearing in fields well beyond technical standard-setting, including open source software, green technology and the biosciences. This book explores the motivations, legal characteristics and policy goals of these increasingly popular private ordering tools. Jorge Contreras and Meredith Jacob bring together work by more than a dozen international experts who examine the phenomenon of patent pledges from a variety of perspectives and analytical frameworks. The book assesses patent pledges as mechanisms for facilitating platform promotion, open innovation, economic development and environmental sustainability. Legal practitioners who are involved in intellectual property licensing, litigation and business transactions will find this book a key resource, as will in-house lawyers and managers at firms engaged in technology development and standardization. It will also be a key reference for scholars in law, economics, business and political science. Contributors include: C. Asay, B. Awad, M. Bohannon, M. Callahan, J. Contreras, D. Greenbaum, M. Jacob, Y. Kim, M. Maggiolino, C. Maracke, A. Metzger, L. Montagnani, J. Schultz, S. Scott, T. Sebastian, N. Shanahan, R. Sichel, R. Sikorski, T. Simcoe, D. Valz, L. Vertinsky, E. Wang, E. Winston, S.-S. Yi

Constructing European Intellectual Property offers a comprehensive assessment of the current state of intellectual property legislation in Europe and gives direction on how an improved system might be achieved. This detailed study presents various perspectives on what further actions are necessary to provide the circumstances and tools for the construction of a truly balanced European intellectual property system. The book takes as its starting point that the ultimate aim of such a system should be to ensure sustainable and innovation-based economic growth while enhancing free circulation of ideas and cultural expressions. Being the first in the European Intellectual Property Institutes Network (EIPIN) series, this book lays down some concrete foundations for a deeper understanding of European intellectual property law and its complex interplay with other fields of jurisprudence as well as its impact on a broad array of spheres of social interaction. In so doing, it provides a well needed platform for further research. Academics, policymakers, lawyers and many others concerned with establishment of a regulatory framework for intangibles in the EU will benefit from the extensive and thoughtful discussion presented in this work. Contributors: C. Archambeau, R. D'Erme, E. Derclaye, T. Dreier, S. Dusollier, G.E. Evans, C. Geiger, J. Griffiths, H. Grosse Ruse-Khan, C. Heinze, P.B. Hugenholtz, T. Jaeger, A. Kamperman Sanders, J. Krauss, A. Kur, R. Lutz, R. Matulionyte, L. McDonagh, A. Metzger, T. Mylly, J. Raynard, M. Ricolfi, J. Schovsbo, V. Scordamaglia, M. Senftleben, X. Seuba, U. Suthersanen, T. Takenaka, G. Van Overwalle, M. Vivant

Using a multi-disciplinary and comparative approach, this study examines emerging and innovative attempts to tackle privacy and legal issues in cloud computing such as personal data privacy, security and intellectual property protection. An international team of legal scholars, computer science researchers, regulators and practitioners present original and critical responses to the growing challenges posed by cloud computing. They analyze the specific legal implications pertaining to jurisdiction, biomedical practice and information ownership, as well as issues of regulatory control, competition and cross-border regulation. Law academics, practitioners and regulators will find this book to be a valuable, practical and accessible resource, as will computer science scholars interested in cloud computing issues. Contributors: H. Chang, A.S.Y. Cheung, A. Chiu, K.P. Chow, E.S. Dove, X. Fan, Y. Joly, T.S.-H. Kaan, B.M. Knoppers, J. Kong, G. Master, J.-P. Moiny, C. Reed, D.N. Staiger, G.Y. Tian, R.H. Weber, P.K. Yu

The Economic Valuation of Patents provides an original and essential analysis of patent valuation, presenting the main methodologies to value patents in different contexts. Starting with an analysis of the relevance of patent valuation from a strategic, economic and legal perspective, the book undertakes a thorough review of the existing financial and qualitative valuation methodologies. The contributing authors, IP experts from academia and business, discuss the application of valuation issues in various contexts such as patent portfolio management, licensing agreements, IP litigation, IP-backed finance and accounting. For each topic, an introductory theoretical background is provided and specific application contexts are then investigated. This multidisciplinary book bridges theory and practice in a unique and novel way that will be appreciated by graduate students, scholars and practitioners alike. Contributors: M.A. Bader, O. Gassmann, H. Goddar, M. Granieri, K. Laursen, M.I. Leone, S. Morricone, U. Moser, F. Munari, M.C. Odasso, N. Omland, R. Oriani, L. Sereno, M. Sobrero, L. Toschi, P.M. Valenti

Behind the scenes of the many artists and innovators flourishing beyond the bounds of intellectual property laws Intellectual property law, or IP law, is based on certain assumptions about creative behavior. The case for regulation assumes that creators have a fundamental legal right to prevent copying, and without this right they will under-invest in new work. But this premise fails to fully capture the reality of creative production. It ignores the range of powerful non-economic motivations that compel creativity, and it overlooks the capacity of creative industries for self-governance and innovative social and market responses to appropriation. This book reveals the on-the-ground practices of a range of creators and innovators. In doing so, it challenges intellectual property orthodoxy by showing that incentives for creative production often exist in the absence of, or in disregard for, formal legal protections. Instead, these communities rely on evolving social norms and market responses-sensitive to their particular cultural, competitive, and technological circumstances-to ensure creative incentives. From tattoo artists to medical researchers, Nigerian filmmakers to roller derby players, the communities illustrated in this book demonstrate that creativity can thrive without legal incentives, and perhaps more strikingly, that some creative communities prefer, and thrive, in environments defined by self-regulation rather than legal rules. Beyond their value as descriptions of specific industries and communities, the accounts collected here help to ground debates over IP policy in the empirical realities of the creative process. Their parallels and divergences also highlight the value of rules that are sensitive to the unique mix of conditions and motivations of particular industries and communities, rather than the monoculture of uniform regulation of the current IP system.

Thanks to digitisation and the Internet, preservation of and access to our cultural heritage - which consists of works protected by copyright and works in the public domain - have never been easier. This essential book examines the twin issues of the preservation of, and access to, cultural heritage and the problems copyright law creates and the solutions it can at the same time provide. The expert contributors explore the extent to which current copyright laws from Europe and beyond prevent or help the constitution of a centralized online repository of our cultural heritage. Provided legal reform is achieved and the additional financial and organisational hurdles are overcome, this work argues that it should be possible to fulfill the dream of an online Alexandrian library. Copyright and Cultural Heritage will appeal strongly to both academics and practitioners of intellectual property as well as to policymakers - as it proposes modifications to copyright law in the UK and beyond. This book will also provoke thought amongst associated and interested parties from industry and those using, managing or distributing content.

This insightful and important new book explores the role played by Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in articulating concerns at the TRIPS Council, the WIPO, the WHO, the CBD-COP and the FAO that intellectual property rights can have negative consequences for developing countries. Duncan Matthews describes how coalitions of international NGOs have influenced the way that the relationship between intellectual property rights and development is understood, often framing the message as a human rights issue to emphasize these concerns and ensure that access to medicines, food security and the rights of indigenous peoples over their traditional knowledge are protected. Based on extensive research undertaken in Geneva and in developing countries, the book also reveals how NGOs and broader social movements in Brazil, India and South Africa have played a crucial role in addressing the negative impacts of intellectual property rights by using human rights law as a practical tool before national courts and when seeking to influence national legislation and government policy. Intellectual Property, Human Rights and Development will appeal to academics, practitioners, activists, international negotiators and to postgraduate students in intellectual property law, human rights law, the international political economy of intellectual property rights and development studies.

The Rt Hon Professor Sir Robin Jacob has been variously a leading member of the Intellectual Property Bar, a High Court judge and, as Lord Justice Jacob, a judge in the Court of Appeal of England and Wales. His primary area of expertise is intellectual property (IP) rights. He chose to leave the Court of Appeal in March 2011 to take up his current position as the Sir Hugh Laddie Chair in intellectual property at University College London. Besides teaching and writing he still sits occasionally in the Court of Appeal, sits as an arbitrator, provides expert evidence, chairs the Advisory Committee on the Appointment and Training of the Judges of the Unified Patent Court and often advises the UK Government and EU Commission on IP matters. These essays and speeches, selected from his published and unpublished writings and lectures, illustrate the breadth of his learning in IP and other matters. They are written in typically straightforward and entertaining style and, in the case of the older essays, include a commentary of what has happened since they were first published. They will be of interest to any lawyer, law student or scholar interested in the development of IP law in the past quarter century or so.

Intellectual property goods are frequently referred to as intangible or abstract. Yet, traditionally, they have almost always needed to be embodied or materialized in order to be protected (and - to a certain extent - to be used and enjoyed), regardless of whether they are copyrighted works, patented inventions or trademarks. With a focus on the issue of access and the challenges of new technologies such as biotechnology and digital technologies, this unique collection analyzes the relationship between intellectual property and its physical embodiments. It contains a mixture of theoretical and practical perspectives and encompasses an interdisciplinary approach, including chapters on the connection between intellectual property and cultural heritage law, cultural property law and international trade law. The book furthermore comprises historical reflections that illuminate how intellectual property has never been purely about the intangible. Intellectual Property and Access to Im/material Goods will be of interest to scholars, practitioners and law and policymakers. Users of intellectual property goods such as museums, libraries, archives and/or other cultural institutions, as well as users of biomaterials, copyrighted works, patented inventions and/or trademarked goods will find value in this book. Contributors include: C.E. Bell, M. Blakeney, D.L. Burk, S. Corbett, S. Frankel, M.J. Madison, A. McMahon, A. Pottage, L.K. Skorodenski, G. Spedicato, P.K. Yu