Legal Geographies of Intellectual Property

This timely, path-setting book examines the relationship between intellectual property (IP) and geography, highlighting the importance of place, space, and power in the operation of IP. Expert authors explore how legal rules interact with cultural, political, economic, and digital environments across different geographical contexts.

In response to a growing need for interdisciplinary scholarship that brings together IP law and geography, contributors assess the extent to which IP is influenced by geographical conditions, ranging from local communities and cities to global markets and online platforms. Viewing law through a geographical perspective, they develop new ways of thinking about innovation, creativity, and cultural production. Chapters discuss topics such as feminism, indigenous knowledge and finance, revealing the hidden inequalities and power relations within IP systems. Ultimately, the book posits that integrating geography into IP scholarship can lead to increased justice-oriented research and context-sensitive policymaking.

Legal Geographies of Intellectual Property provides new theoretical and methodological tools for scholars and students of IP law, socio-legal studies and development, and international studies. Its rich case studies demonstrate how intellectual property operates, also benefiting geographers interested in the human and legal sectors.