Intellectual Property and Access to Im/material Goods

Intellectual property goods are frequently referred to as intangible or abstract. Yet, traditionally, they have almost always needed to be embodied or materialised in order to be protected (and – to a certain extent – to be used and enjoyed), regardless of whether they are copyrighted works, patented inventions or trade marks.

With a focus on the issue of access and the challenges of new technologies such as biotechnology and digital technologies, this unique collection analyses the relationship between intellectual property and its physical embodiments. It contains a mixture of theoretical and practical perspectives and encompasses an interdisciplinary approach, including chapters on the connection between intellectual property and cultural heritage law, cultural property law and international trade law. The book furthermore comprises historical reflections that illuminate how intellectual property has never been purely about the intangible.

Intellectual Property and Access to Im/material Goods will be of interest to scholars, practitioners and law and policy makers. Users of intellectual property goods such as museums, libraries, archives and/or other cultural institutions, as well as users of biomaterials, copyrighted works, patented inventions and/or trademarked goods, will find value in this book.