When the first edition of this book was published in 1994, the term 'IPRs' (intellectual property rights) was becoming generally known, partly by reason of the high profile of IPRs in the Uruguay Round of GATT (the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade), which was finally agreed in 1995; familiarity was improving but understanding was by no means widespread. With this edition, the term IPRs is widely seen in the general press, although only the heavyweight end makes any effort to understand the principles, and even journalists in the quality press tend to write about 'patenting your trade mark'. The terms 'knowledge society' and 'knowledge assets' are fashionable in articles on management, and of course IPRs are a major knowledge asset, with skilled staff being another.

Inspec keywords: trade agreements; trademarks; patents

Other keywords: knowledge assets; General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; knowledge society; patenting; intellectual property right; trademark; Uruguay Round of GATT

Subjects: Legal aspects