Intellectual Property Rights as Obstacles to Legitimate Trade?

Anselm Kamperman Sanders (Editor), Anke Moerland (Editor), C. Heath (Editor)

Research output: Book/ReportBook editingAcademic

Abstract

Intellectual Property Rights as Obstacles to Legitimate Trade
Edited by Christopher Heath, Anselm Kamperman Sanders and Anke Moerland

When does the exercise of intellectual property rights become an unjustified burden to legitimate trade? Cases have arisen where intellectual property rights are conferred, used, or enforced in a manner that arguably impedes trade, both in domestic and international contexts. This groundbreaking book is the first comprehensive assessment of this controversial area of trade law, shedding important new light on the underlying rationales of the TRIPS Agreement.

With contributions by both practitioners and academics working in a range of countries, this book considers thorny issues in such areas as the following:

- interpretation of “obstacles to legitimate trade” in the context of GATT/ WTO jurisprudence;
- separating markets by preventing parallel importation in the context of patents;
‒ geoblocking – territorial separation of digital markets;
‒ using trademarks to prevent competition;
‒ geographical indications – protection of terms that are considered generic in certain domestic markets;
‒ seizure of goods in transit;
‒ ‘evergreening’ patents – attempts to extend the duration of patents;
‒ rights to second-hand digital goods or content; and
‒ unjustified threats – towards appropriate standards of liability.

Focusing on topical and under-researched areas of intellectual property law, the contributors stimulate a discussion on an overarching concern that is not often addressed – how to assess whether the protection and enforcement of certain intellectual property rights in particular situations should be classified as trade barriers. An incisive analysis of the desirable balance between the exercise of intellectual property rights and the demands of legitimate trade, this book will be welcomed by practitioners, lawmakers, policy advisers, and academics in both trade law and intellectual property law.
Original languageEnglish
Place of PublicationAlphen aan den Rijn
PublisherKluwer International
Number of pages203
ISBN (Electronic)978-94-0350-205-2, 9789403502342
ISBN (Print)978-94-0350-330-1
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2018

Publication series

SeriesIEEM Series on International Intellectual Property Law
Volume9

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