Jessica C. Lai

Antoinette Maget Dominicé

'The lines dividing abstract objects, material objects, information and their relationship to digital processes have always been difficult to draw in the context of intellectual property law. This volume is the first to take on this difficult topic in a comprehensive way. It shows the depth of the difficulties, but also provides a theoretical foundation for new approaches to these divides. It is an original and important contribution.'- Peter Drahos, Australian National University, Australia

Intellectual Property and Access to Im/material Goods

This book analyses the gendered nature of patent law and the knowledge governance system it supports. The vast majority of patented inventions are attributed to male inventors. While this has resulted in arguments that there are not enough women working in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, this book maintains that the issue lies with the very nature of patent law and how it governs knowledge. The reason why fewer women patent than men is that patent law and the knowledge governance system it supports are gendered. This book deconstructs patent law to reveal the multiple gendered binaries it embodies, and how these in turn reflect gendered understandings of what constitutes science and an invention, and a scientist and an inventor. Revealing the inherent biases of the patent system, as well as its reliance on an idea of the public domain, the book argues that an egalitarian knowledge governance system must go beyond socialised binaries to better govern knowledge creation, dissemination and maintenance. This book will appeal to scholars and policymakers in the field of patent law, as well as those in law and other disciplines with interests in law, gender and technology.

Tackling Gender Bias in Knowledge Governance

Patent Law and Women

Christoph Beat Graber

Karolina Kuprecht

This text sets the standard for researchers working on the difficult issues raised by trade and commerce in indigenous cultural heritage.

Jessica C. Lai

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