Intellectual Property Futures: Exploring the Global Landscape of IP Law and Policy

The past few decades have been witness to a number of important developments with respect to the global intellectual property (IP) system, including shifts in focus between multilateralism and bilateralism/regionalism; growing recognition of the various ways in which IP intersects with and impacts areas including human rights, development, trade, and social justice; broad acknowledgement of the economic value of many IP rights; and important theoretical interventions that have challenged the values underlying the global IP system.

These developments have occurred alongside several other events, changes, and crises that have altered the landscape of our global communities. Chief among them are climate change; armed conflicts; the COVID-19 pandemic; economic changes to work; technological shifts including those relating to the internet and artificial intelligence, and their role in society; and growing recognition of the inequities that exist within and between societies as well as the ways in which these inequities are reinforced and maintained through systemic discrimination and ongoing colonialism.

Given these developments, changes, and crises, what is the future of IP law and policy? Featuring contributions from scholars from across Canada and around the world, this collection offers insights into eighteen possible futures for the global IP system.

Collectively, these chapters re-envision international agreements; rethink Canadian IP law; argue for the creation of space for Indigenous legal traditions; highlight the promises and perils of technology as it relates to IP; expose inequities and injustices, and provide possible pathways to correct them.

Graham J. Reynolds (Editor)
Graham Reynolds is Associate Professor and Associate Dean, Research and International, at UBC’s Peter A. Allard School of Law. Dr. Reynolds’ teaching and research focus on the intersection of intellectual property and human rights.

Alexandra Mogyoros (Editor)
Alexandra Mogyoros is Assistant Professor at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law, Toronto Metropolitan University. Dr. Mogyoros’ research focuses on trademark law, brands, trust, and expression in online spaces.

Teshager Dagne (Editor)
Teshager Dagne is Associate Professor at York University and holds an Ontario Research Chair in Governing Artificial Intelligence. Dr. Dagne’s research and teaching focus on the intersections of AI, intellectual property, and development.