Intellectual Property and Competitive Strategies in the 21st Century

It is common knowledge that intellectual property rights lie at the heart of the global economy. But in what way exactly? The literature in the fields has burgeoned dramatically in recent years, and we have a surfeit of work that either focuses on narrow aspects or sweeps over broad legal regimes from the perspectives of particulars stakeholders. Here for the first time is a panoramic but detailed view of the world's intellectual property system that embraces socioeconomic, cultural and technological development in its scope, clarifying the pitfalls and challenges that the system presents even as it promises to improve the quality of life on our planet.

The authors, both internationally respected and honoured for their work in elucidating the economic necessity of an intellectual property system that can inspire universal confidence, emphasise the imperative of international competitiveness in knowledge-based technology. In their orderly presentation of the key issues that promote the real benefits (not yet achieved) of a truly effective regime of intellectual property rights they discuss such factors as the following: the use of intellectual property as an integral part of busines