Circular Economy: (Not So) Merry Go Round for Innovation and World Intellectual Property Regime

Abstract

This study will investigate intellectual property (IP) issues that hinder or halt the implementation of closed-loop circular economies such as risk of knowledge1 leakage, spill-overs, identification and articulation of IP in licensing agreements relating to recycled products etc. It will subsequently investigate the conceivable ramifications to the innovation ecosystem of the world, primarily India, due to concerns arising out of IP enforcement. It has been a long held belief that constructive IP regulations can contribute enormously towards the creation of sustainable development ecosystem, and therefore, the researchers will delve into innovative IP reforms, such re-defining the contours of intangible property in private law and methods avoid IP spill-over, leakage etc., which can help fill gaps on the path of creation of sustainable circular economy across the globe.