Remarkable technological and cultural transformations have
impacted Intellectual Property rights management during the past 25
years and many experts agree, IP legal practices are not keeping up
with today's technologies. Examining how the industry will
adapt over the next decade, ten key changes will have a significant
influence on IP practices.
1. Global vs. National IP
During the last 50 years, policies and treaties have focused on
global, rather than national IP protection. The Madrid Protocol, ICANN's UDRP process, WIPO's Patent Cooperation
Treaty, and the European Union's Intellectual Property
Directives, are just a few examples. They all aim to facilitate
the global protection of Intellectual Property rights (IPRs) in a
world where businesses are not constrained by national borders, but
global protection is hampered by high costs and uncertainty. For
IPR holders, this raises potential risks.
