Research Handbook on Intellectual Property Exhaustion and Parallel Imports

This Research Handbook explores issues related to the principle of exhaustion of intellectual property rights. To date, the application of this principle continues to vary from country to country, and there is increasing pressure to clarify the extent of its application both at the national level and in the context of international trade with respect to parallel imports. Notably, from the Americas to the European Union, Asia-Pacific, and Africa, courts and policy makers are asking similar questions: Should exhaustion apply at the national, regional, or international level? Should parallel imports be considered lawful imports? Should copyright, patent, and trademark laws follow the same regime? Should countries attempt to harmonize their approaches? To what extent should living matters and self-replicating technologies be subject to the principle of exhaustion? To what extent have the rise of digital goods and the 'Internet of things' redefined the concept of exhaustion in cyberspace? The goal of this book is to explore these questions. The book also highlights how a one-size answer may not fit all the current challenges that the courts and policy makers are facing in this area. This Research Handbook will be of interest to academics, judges and other practitioners looking for an in-depth study on the topic, offering both of detailed analysis of the current state of play, and a discussion of the challenges that arise on a global scale.