Book review: W. van Caenegem, Intellectual Property Law and Innovation

This is in several respects an attractive publication. In over 200 pages, a wealth of insights is offered to the reader about the legal instruments to support and protect industrial innovations. The text is supplemented by a list of acronyms, tables of statutes and cases, an extensive bibliography and an index. The focus on industrial innovation refers to the innovation in function (or ‘technological’ innovation) and in novel product appearance (or ‘product’ innovation). Areas like art, literature, dramatic and musical entertainment fall outside the scope of the book. Therefore, it might have been preferable to use the expression industrial property law in the title. The author, Professor of Law at Bond University, Australia, addresses the application of relevant legal instruments (IP law) to protect useful products and processes.