What single reform?

Publication details

Robin Jacob, ‘What single reform?’ in Gustavo Ghidini and Valeria Falce (eds) Reforming Intellectual Property (Edward Elgar, 2022)

Abstract

Reforming Intellectual Property brings together some of the world’s leading scholars in the field to offer their unique insight into the future of intellectual property. Providing a diverse array of perspectives on the most pressing reforms needed in the current IP regime, whether in terms of legislation at national and international levels, or interpretation of existing law, this exceptional book highlights the key issues in this area and sets out an agenda for future research and policy.

In 'What single reform?', Professor Sir Robin Jacob canvasses a number of possible options for reforming intellectual property, considering copyright law, trde mark law and patent law in turn, before selecting the fixed patent term as the strongest candidate: 'Any rational thinker would say it is more than faintly absurd for the term of a patent to be 20 years from filing for any kind of invention. A new and inventive tin-opener gets the same term as a mighty life-saving invention such a new class of medicines. The benefit to humanity, the cost and time of development of each are wildly different.'

Find out more about the book here.