The international intellectual property (IP) law system allows states to develop policies that reflect their national interests. Therefore, although there is an international minimum standards framework in place, states have widely varying IP laws and differing interpretations of these laws. This book examines whether pluralism in IP law is functional when applied to copyright, patents and trademarks on an international basis. The book is divided into four parts which focus on the interaction between global standards and national norms, pluralism within the framework of international norms, pluralistic functions of copyright and the flexibility applied to patent law. Within these themes, topical issues are addressed such as traditional knowledge, geographical indications, protecting plant varieties and freedom of expression. Contributors are drawn from a range of jurisdictions to provide a global outlook on the topics at hand. Researchers and scholars who are interested in international IP law and its applications will find this to be a valuable resource. Policy makers will also benefit from the contributors' insights on whether law reforms in their home jurisdictions have been effective and how these laws interact with the international IP system.

A lucid and accessible explanation of international intellectual property law. The authors do not shrink from the complexities and nuances of the field but manage commendably to present them as a part of a coherent system.' - Graeme B. Dinwoodie, University of Oxford, UK'Written by two of the foremost scholars in trade and intellectual property, this book offers a clear and comprehensive overview of the institutions, actors, texts, concepts, norms and issues encountered in the intellectual property arena. It is hard to imagine a better introduction to the international regime. Indeed, it is a 'must-have' for anyone entering the field from the academy, practice, government, arbitration or adjudication.' - Rochelle Dreyfuss, New York University, School of Law, US 'International norms constitute an essential framework at global, regional and domestic level for any development of this increasingly important but also complex area of law which is intellectual property. This advanced introduction to international property authored by Professor Frankel and Professor Gervais, two leading scholars in this field, is therefore particularly timely, as it presents in a condensed but complete and easy accessible way all the relevant institutions and actors, the major instruments, the key concepts, the current norms and the most important challenges to be addressed by the international intellectual property system. A must have in any good IP library!' - Christophe Geiger, University of Strasbourg, France 'This concise manual offers an ideal overview of international intellectual property. It will serve as a valuable Introduction for readers unfamiliar with intellectual property law, or with certain of its branches. But even readers already versed in some or all IP areas will also find illuminating insights throughout each chapter. Moreover, in addition to the principal traditional intellectual property sectors, the book addresses topics that have more recently commanded the attention of scholars and policy makers, particularly private international law and the relationship of IP and traditional knowledge.' - Jane C. Ginsburg, Columbia University, School of Law, US 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. This authoritative introduction provides a detailed overview of the complexities of the international intellectual property regime and the ways in which it operates. The authors cover the key international institutions and agreements that regulate and inform intellectual property at an international level such as the TRIPS Agreement, WIPO, WTO, the Paris Convention and the Berne Convention. The book serves as a platform to understand and contextualize policy discussions on topics such as public health, Internet regulation, as well as regional and bilateral trade treaties. Key features include: - Accessible and carefully summarized overview of the field - Comprehensive and up-to-date review of all major international intellectual property institutions and instruments - Introduces current issues within international IP negotiations - Provides tools to analyze the history and possible future development of international IP norms. Students, researchers, policy makers and practitioners of intellectual property will find this book to be an invaluable resource in gaining an understanding of the international rules and context in which both domestic and international IP policy issues should be understood.

Much of the debate around the parameters of intellectual property (IP) protection relates to differing views about what IP law is supposed to achieve. This book analyses the object and purpose of international intellectual property law, examining how international agreements have been interpreted in different jurisdictions and how this has led to diversity in IP regimes at a national level. The book is divided along four key themes: the relationship between IP law, development goals and cultural objectives; international and regional frameworks for design protection including packaging and trade marks; enforcement and innovation in the EU; and the object and purpose of copyright law. Within these themes, each chapter assesses the factors that are driving IP law in the respective field, such as protection, flexibility and trade-related concerns. Featuring contributions from a globally diverse range of authors, this book questions whether IP laws, and their application, are achieving their intended objectives and purpose on a national and international scale. This book will be of interest to academics, researchers and students working in international intellectual property law. Practicing lawyers and policy makers can also benefit from its detailed analysis and case studies which explore international practices.

The book examines trade agreements in the context of the current world economic crisis and the uncompleted World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round of trade negotiations. With economies shrinking and protectionism on the rise, many fear a protracted global recession. This raises important questions as to what role trade agreements - multilateral, plurilateral, and bilateral - should be playing in the current climate of uncertainty, and how best to plan for a more stable economic future. Previous assumptions are now being questioned, making this an opportune time to critically examine the WTO, free trade agreements, bilateral investment treaties, and other international economic law instruments. Furthermore, participants in international agreements are concerned with emerging issues that have the potential to strengthen or weaken the global trading system, including matters of treaty interpretation; terms of new agreements; and effects of existing provisions. This book provides a timely addition to the international economic law literature, as its submissions have been prepared during a time of unusual uncertainty and economic change; individuals interested in international economic law will seek scholarship that recognizes the current international economic climate. This book should be of interest to a wide range of academics and student researchers, as well as policymakers and practitioners.

The book examines trade agreements in the context of the current world economic crisis and the uncompleted World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round of trade negotiations. With economies shrinking and protectionism on the rise, many fear a protracted global recession. This raises important questions as to what role trade agreements - multilateral, plurilateral, and bilateral - should be playing in the current climate of uncertainty, and how best to plan for a more stable economic future. Previous assumptions are now being questioned, making this an opportune time to critically examine the WTO, free trade agreements, bilateral investment treaties, and other international economic law instruments. Furthermore, participants in international agreements are concerned with emerging issues that have the potential to strengthen or weaken the global trading system, including matters of treaty interpretation; terms of new agreements; and effects of existing provisions. This book provides a timely addition to the international economic law literature, as its submissions have been prepared during a time of unusual uncertainty and economic change; individuals interested in international economic law will seek scholarship that recognizes the current international economic climate. This book should be of interest to a wide range of academics and student researchers, as well as policymakers and practitioners.

The digital age has prompted new questions about the role and function of copyright. Internationally, copyright has progressively increased its scope of protection over new technology and modes of distribution. Yet many copyright owners express dissatisfaction and consider that the system is not working for them. Many users of copyright material, and even some owners, consider that copyright gives too much protection and that copyright owners want too much. This book considers how copyright might evolve in the twenty-first century and how it might reach equilibrium between authors, owners, users and those who connect them.

Small market economies provide a valuable insight into how a country might balance competing interests in global intellectual property. As developed countries that are also net-importers of intellectual property, small market economies have similar concerns to some developing countries. This duality of developed and developing country interests has resulted in some innovative ways of calibrating laws so that they both support national economic and social needs and honour international commitments. In this book, Susy Frankel uses examples from the small market economies of Singapore, New Zealand and Israel to address global intellectual property issues. Those issues include approaching treaty interpretation to both assist in implementation of obligations and utilisation of flexibilities, and effective dispute resolution; the links between trade and innovation; when and how patent and copyright law can be flexible; the importance of trade marks to small businesses; parallel importing; and the protection of traditional knowledge.

International commitments may sit uneasily with national pressures in the best of times. This age of economic uncertainty brings these tensions into sharper relief. This volume draws together thirteen analyses of this tension in a wide array of contexts, including each of the three main pillars of the World Trade Organization, international investment law and arbitration, and the international financial institutions. The essays feature internationally recognised experts addressing topical examples of international economic law obligations clashing with domestic political interests. For example, Professor Robert Howse, of New York University Law School, addresses issues of globalization and whether international and national interests can in today's world be considered separate, while Ko-Yung Tung, the former Director-General of the World Bank, looks at trends in investment treaty arbitration and considers what the future may hold in light of the recent financial crisis, the rise of China as an economic powerhouse, and other factors.