Dr Enrico Bonadio co-edits a new book of essays on Intellectual Property (IP) disputes which have taken the notion of IP protection to extremes.
By Mr John Stevenson (Senior Communications Officer), Published
Reader in Intellectual Property Law in The City Law School, Dr Enrico Bonadio, has recently co-edited the new book Intellectual Property Excesses (Hart Publishing), with Dr Aislinn O' Connell (Royal Holloway, University of London).
This collection of essays highlights the sometimes absurd outcomes which an unjustified overprotection of intellectual property (IP) may lead to. It collects and comments on a series of IP disputes which have taken the notion of IP protection to extremes.
From individuals being sued for hundreds of thousands of dollars for sharing a playlist, to sports spectators being arrested for wearing the 'wrong' dresses, passing through granting patents for inventions obtained by misappropriating traditional knowledge, and trademark protection of merely descriptive signs, this book brings together a broad range of examples from across the IP spectrum where protection and enforcement have been used or threatened on unreasonable and/or untenable grounds.
The aim of this book of essays is to draw attention to these excesses precisely because they harm IP; they contribute to creating an environment where more and more people are led to 'hate' IP and view it as a protectionist regime which discourages creativity in innovation and ends up safeguarding the owners of monopolistic rights which restrict trade, competition and people's freedom.
Dr Bonadio says:
Far from it being a book against IP, it is au contraire, a call for change and an attempt to 'save' IP through critiquing its excesses and preventing such a fascinating area of law from continuing to be an easy target for criticism.