Legal Commentary

Happy World Intellectual Property Day

By David Canton

Today is World Intellectual Property Day.   WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Organization) states that this day is meant:

- to raise awareness of how patents, copyright, trademarks and designs impact on daily life;

- to increase understanding of how protecting IP rights helps promote creativity and innovation;

- to celebrate creativity, and the contribution made by creators and innovators to the development of societies across the globe;

- to encourage respect for the IP rights of others.

So here’s my two cents worth on a high level view of  intellectual property:

- The interests and viewpoints of both creators and users are important.

- Balancing creator and user rights is important.

- The contributions to the world by creators (whether scientific breakthroughs, new tech devices, or entertainment) are important and should be fostered.

- IP law has to be practical – it affects the average person now more than ever.

- Remedies shouldn’t be arbitrary or do more harm than good.

- IP law needs to consider where tech and individual expectations are taking us.

- It’s never a bad thing to step back and ask basic questions about the goals of IP law – and how it might differ now than years ago.

Full post as published by eLegal Canton on April 26, 2010 (boomark / email).