The Cambridge Handbook of Intellectual Property and Upcycling

This handbook is for lawyers, academics, artists and designers who are interested in the legal issues concerning upcycling. It thoroughly addresses the key legal matters related to this emerging green business model, including copyrights, trademarks, patents, and unfair competition. The perspective is international: all continents are covered.

Upcycling is an emerging green business model that involves transforming broken, old, useless or worn-out products into new items. Despite its importance to the circular economy, upcycling involves certain risks relating to intellectual property (IP) law. This research handbook analyses the meaning and promise of upcycling in a circular economy, as well as the fundamental conceptual elements of this phenomenon. It provides a systematic collection of chapters on the potential relevance of upcycling in all major areas of IP law. It also takes a geographical approach, including six chapters that primarily cover the policy considerations of upcycling on all inhabited continents. Furthermore, it addresses fields of science with either indirect or loose connections to IP and upcycling, such as economic, psychological, and social justice issues. The book supports upcycling at doctrinal, practical, and policy levels, and suggests measures to align the IP system with the objectives of the circular economy.