Pluralism, Principles and Proportionality in Intellectual Property†.

This review article offers a European perspective on the pluralistic, principles-based model of intellectual property (IP) advanced by Robert Merges in his book Justifying Intellectual Property. After introducing Merges’s model and theory of IP with reference to IP theories generally, other pluralis...

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Published in:Oxford Journal of Legal Studies Vol. 34; no. 1; pp. 181 - 201
Main Author: Pila, Justine
Format: Article
Published: Oxford University Press / USA Mar2014
Subjects:
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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        atl: Pluralism, Principles and Proportionality in Intellectual Property†.
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        au: Pila, Justine
      su:
        Intellectual property
        Utilitarianism
        Patent law
        Justifying Intellectual Property (Book)
        Merges, Robert
        Copyright
        Legal pluralism
        United Kingdom
        Europe
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          United Kingdom
          Europe
          Intellectual property
          Utilitarianism
          Patent law
          Justifying Intellectual Property (Book)
          Merges, Robert
          Copyright
          Legal pluralism
      keyword:
        copyright
        EU law
        justifications
        patents
        pluralism
        principles
      ab: This review article offers a European perspective on the pluralistic, principles-based model of intellectual property (IP) advanced by Robert Merges in his book Justifying Intellectual Property. After introducing Merges’s model and theory of IP with reference to IP theories generally, other pluralistic legal models, and patterns of judicial reasoning in the patent and copyright fields, the article argues that European jurisprudence offers broad support for Merges’s operational model of IP, while also challenging certain aspects of his wider analysis. They include his ‘one size fits all’ foundational theory of IP, his account of key IP rules and practices, and his choice and conception of IP’s midlevel principles. Through this critique the article draws attention to the utilitarian bias of Merges’s model; a bias which undermines its pluralistic claims, in part by undermining Merges’s own foundational theory of IP. The result is to underline the limits of a regime unconcerned with its own normative basis, and the need for more rather than less discussion of IP theory, including more work of the type that Merges’s book undertakes.
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    language: English
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