Book review: Machines, molecules and metadata: a tangible analysis of intangible subject matter

Book review: Machines, molecules and metadata: a tangible analysis of intangible subject matter

Journal Article

1 online resource (pages 283–284)

In recent decades, the landscape of IP law has been increasingly challenged by the rise of dematerialized innovations—ie those lacking traditional, tangible forms. This shift raises profound questions for patent law: how do we define and protect inventions that exist primarily as information? What implications does this have for traditional legal doctrines rooted in the physicality of objects? Brad Sherman’s Intangible Intangibles: Patent Law’s Engagement with Dematerialised Subject Matter addresses these critical issues with a depth and rigour that is both timely and necessary. His exploration provides a comprehensive understanding of how patent law has historically adapted to such challenges and offers insights into how it must continue to evolve to meet the demands of an information-centric era. The book tackles the following main research questions: ... These questions are woven throughout the book, providing a comprehensive analysis of both historical and contemporary issues in patent law. One of the central questions Sherman addresses is how patent law has evolved to accommodate dematerialized subject matter. Sherman traces this evolution through a historical lens, beginning with the shift from tangible to intangible patents in the late 19th century, particularly within the domain of chemical inventions. He highlights the transition from patents based on physical substances to those based on chemical formulas (pp. 15–23), illustrating how this shift set a precedent for future developments in managing intangible subject matter.

Intellectual Property Law & Practice, 20, 4, 2025.

Oxford, UK : Oxford University Press, 2025.

English

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External Online Journals > Journal of Intellectual Property Law and Practice