Private Law Theory

ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic has moved to the forefront paradoxes that raise complex questions while revealing contradictions. Commentators have already identified the various paradoxes in the realms of international law and global public health. This short essay turns to paradoxes in the intellectual property field.

For illustrative purposes, the discussion focuses on three paradoxes, all of which relate to each other. The first paradox concerns the difficult policy choices countries have to make in developing pandemic responses, including choices relating to intellectual property law and policy. The second paradox pertains to the strengths and weaknesses of the international intellectual property system. The final paradox relates to the scope of intellectual property protection.

Yu, Peter K, Intellectual Property Paradoxes in Pandemic Times (January 5, 2022). GRUR International, volume 71, Oxford University Press, 2022, forthcoming, Texas A&M University School of Law Legal Studies Research Paper No 22-04.

First posted 2022-01-11 18:00:53