@article{42114,
      author = {Onyeagbako, Victoria},
      url = {http://tind.wipo.int/record/42114},
      title = {Justifications for Copyright and Patents Protection},
      abstract = {The various fields of intellectual property law (IPL) have  massively developed or expanded and have attracted global  attention. The development of commercial aspects of  intellectual properties and consequent high rate of  infringement led to the clamour for protection and  recognition of intellectual creations as property rights.  There are numerous theories justifying the protection of  intellectual property rights (IPRs) and monopoly accruing  to right- holders by virtue of IP protection. Consequently,  some of these schools of thought have been largely  criticised in that the protection afforded to IPRs arguably  occasion more harm than good by stifling the growth of  prevalent national and international trade relations,  through the grant of monopolies to right- holders. Various  theories have been propounded in justifying copyright and  patents protection. This article critically analyses four  major theories of justification; prevention of deceitful  and fraudulent practices, moral/ natural right, incentive/  reward and human rights theories. The various justificatory  strands of these theories are discussed in identifying the  strengths and weaknesses of each theory. This article  suggests that there is not one all- encompassing theory of  justification for the protection of copyright and patents.  It establishes that these theories are neatly intertwined  in substance. Notwithstanding varying rationales behind  every theory, the importance of intellectual property  protection afforded right- holders remains constant.},
      recid = {42114},
      pages = {17 pages},
}