Topologies of Global Governance in Geneva: Fragmentation of the Intellectual Property Regime

• In Event: 3183 - Section on Global and Transnational Sociology Refereed Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 06. Diffusion in Knowledge, Law, and Fashion

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
In this paper, I argue that the global intellectual property system is in the midst of a deep transformation through a fragmentation of the previous monolithic design into “regimes of intellectual property”. This fragmentation entails not only the diversification of legislations and implementations of protection worldwide but also the disintegration of the fictitious concept of intellectual property. Diversity in the regulations of intellectual property worldwide is not simply a derailment from the global agenda but on the contrary the new characteristic of this new composition of regimes.
In order to account for the ways in which this fragmentation takes place, this paper analyzes the construction and transformation of the global intellectual property regimes. The focus of this study will be the network in Geneva (Switzerland) as the local hub of this regime’s global governance to examine the policy and norm making processes. This paper aims to explore the linkages/relationships among:
a) the transformation in businesses’ use of intellectual property as a sign of changing organization of business models on a world scale,
b) the social dynamics of global norm-making in Geneva,
c) and the changes in the conceptualization of intellectual property.
The paper is based on a field research in Geneva, Switzerland.

Author

• Nazan Bedirhanoglu, State University of New York-Binghamton