Sub-patent Innovation Rights : Utility Models, Petty Patents and Innovation Patents Around the World

The first book-length study of utility models and other forms of sub-patent protection across jurisdictions in Europe, the Americas, Asia, Oceania and Africa, critically assessing how they are utilized by innovators, litigants and dealmakers, and how they have impacted current debates over legal harmonization, innovation and economic development.

This ground-breaking work delves into the world of sub-patent intellectual property rights, exploring utility model and similar protection offered by over 100 countries worldwide. Drawing on the expertise of leading scholars from around the globe, this volume provides a comprehensive analysis of sub-patent protection systems, comparing and contrasting statutory frameworks, registration requirements, corporate strategies and litigation tactics. The book also highlights current policy debates surrounding these systems, including their potential to promote local innovation and economic development, proposals for cross-border harmonization, and their interaction with increasingly integrated litigation systems. This book is an invaluable resource for scholars, attorneys, historians, economists, and anyone dealing with complex international intellectual property matters. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.