IP Law: Keep Calm and Carry On?

Abstract

The article surveys the current state of important parts of intellectual property law both for non-specialists and specialists. It takes the form of a personal address to Jeremy Bentham and contrasts his pragmatic approach in the early part of the industrial revolution to the much more complicated way things are now. Particular criticism is directed at current law-making policy, and the overprotection of copyright and trademarks. Current attacks on the patent system by economists and competition lawyers are also considered, the author contending that they are anti-innovation and pro-copyist.