Patent law can intimidate the uninitiated, given both its technical subject matter and the dense, often-shifting details of substantive doctrine. The global nature of modern markets adds yet another layer of complexity, as patent rights are shaped by the interaction of national laws with a web of regional and international agreements. In this book, the acclaimed authors—Margo A. Bagley, Asa Griggs Candler Professor of Law at Emory University School of Law, and Rochelle C. Dreyfuss, Pauline Newman Professor of Law Emerita at New York University School of Law—offer a comprehensive survey of patent law across jurisdictions and explain how trade agreements have reshaped the field over the past century.

The book is written for a broad audience that includes students, economists, policymakers, and practitioners. In the Preface, the authors set out their central thesis: that patent law can play an important role in encouraging beneficial innovation when used thoughtfully, but that excessively stringent protection can limit governments’ ability to meet the needs of their populations, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Throughout the book, the authors draw on examples from the COVID‑19 pandemic to illustrate how the international patent system affects countries at different levels of economic development, often highlighting the limits of humanitarian, policy‑driven approaches embedded in existing treaties.

Read the full book review written by Thomas Rammer and published in The Trademark Reporter.