Individual, Multiple and Collective Ownership of Intellectual Property Rights - Which Impact on Exclusivity?

Abstract

The paper explores to what extent the general balance of intellectual property protection is modified due to different ownership structures. For this purpose, individual, multiple and collective ownership structures in all areas of intellectual property law including the protection of traditional knowledge are identified, defined and distinguished. With regard to each category, the paper asks whether there are repercussions on the scope of exclusivity, which bear on the different ownership structures.