Skip to main content

Sustainability Objectives in Competition and Intellectual Property Law

  • Book
  • Open Access
  • © 2024

You have full access to this open access Book

Overview

  • Analyzes how competition and IP law are incorporating sustainability objectives
  • Includes both international and national contributions
  • Written by prominent and respected practitioners in the field
  • This book is open access, which means that you have free and unlimited access

Buy print copy

Softcover Book USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 59.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Table of contents (21 chapters)

  1. Sustainability Objectives in Competition Law

  2. Sustainability Objectives in Intellectual Property Law

Keywords

About this book

This open access volume of LIDC contributions focuses on how competition and intellectual property laws incorporate sustainability objectives. Businesses are increasingly embracing sustainability objectives, driven by the international community. Although competition and intellectual property law are certainly not the only tools for addressing sustainability issues, they can play a role in moving toward a more sustainable society.

Sustainability has gained prominence in competition law in all jurisdictions covered in this volume. The contributions focus on classic questions such as whether sustainability agreements restrict competition and, if so, to what extent businesses can be exempted on efficiency grounds. The papers also raise a number of questions, in particular concerning the treatment of non-market efficiencies. The soft law and case law produced by competition authorities are examined, and the leadership role of some competition authorities in the field – from advocacy to policy papers and sustainability guidelines – is highlighted. The authors call for more individual guidance to provide enhanced transparency and clarity to industry, advisors and society at large on sustainability issues, with guidelines or sustainability-related block exemptions providing even greater legal certainty.


With regard to intellectual property, the contributions examine various important issues, such as the need for intellectual property rights to remain technology-neutral, ways to promote the use of sustainable technologies and incentives for licensing, and ways to promote the dissemination of sustainable technologies, including compulsory licensing, cross-licensing, open source or FRAND licensing, and replacing the destruction of counterfeit goods with recycling. The papers also discuss greenwashing and how it can be addressed through revisions to trademarks and related rights.

Editors and Affiliations

  • Këllezi Legal, Geneva, Switzerland

    Pranvera Këllezi

  • Athena Law, Geneva, Switzerland

    Pierre Kobel

  • Linklaters LLP, London, UK

    Bruce Kilpatrick

About the editors

Dr. Pranvera Këllezi is an attorney at law in Geneva and a member of the Swiss Competition Commission, Switzerland. She represents companies and public organizations in business law, antitrust and competition, data protection, as well as in public economic law. She is member of the LIDC board responsible for publications.

Pierre Kobel practiced in all fields of law in different law firms in Geneva, Lausanne, and in the USA, as well as with the Federal administration in Bern and as a deputy judge in Geneva. He is frequently invited as a guest lecturer and is a recognized practitioner in the field of antitrust, intellectual property, and dispute resolution.


Bruce Kilpatrick is a partner at Addleshaw Goddard LLP, based in London. He advises a range of clients on competition law, utility regulation, merger control, and EU state aid matters. He has particular expertise in the energy, transport, retail, and financial services sectors.

Bibliographic Information

Publish with us