10 IP Books to Pack in Your Summer Totes

Picture this: you're lounging somewhere in the Mediterranean relaxed and carefree under your beach umbrella. A gentle summer breeze is rustling the pages of the self-improvement book you bought from the corner kiosk, the one that promised to solve all your problems in ten simple steps. But there's a problem: it's dreadfully boring. So, what do you do?

As August rolls in, some of you are already soaking up the sun in tropical paradises, while others are packing their bags, eagerly anticipating their own getaway. To avoid the scenario above, don't forget to bring along that IP book you've been meaning to read but never quite got around to.

This Kat is here to help with a list of ten top-notch IP books that will make your summer holiday both enjoyable and productive:

Copyright and the Court of Justice of the European Union (Second Edition)

By PermaKat Eleonora Rosati, this book was voted the IPKat’s Book of the Year for Best Copyright Book 2023 by our readers! It offers clear guidance on EU copyright case law and includes—this Kat’s personal favorite—a detailed statistical analysis of case law to reveal the key factors influencing the Court’s approach. Check out our detailed review here.

Hashtags and Trade Marks - A Comparative Legal Approach

If you’re a social media aficionado looking to boost your followers with summer posts, Nazanin Aslani’s book is a must-read! This “trendy” work explores the legal dimensions of hashtags as trademarks in the EU, Germany, and the USA, focusing on their use, registration, protection, control mechanisms, and scope. For our review click here.

Developments and Directions in Intellectual Property. Twenty Years of The IPKat

Edited by Hayleigh Bosher and Eleonora Rosati, this is a true celebration of the 20th anniversary of our blog, bringing together contributions from several past and present IPKat team members, as well as many eminent Katfriends. Covering a broad spectrum of IP topics, from patents to copyright to image rights, each chapter offers valuable insights and reflections on the ever-evolving world of IP. Read Bill Patry's review here. 

Commercialising Celebrity Persona

Speaking of image rights, Emma Perot's book looks into the timely topic of how various industries—advertising, merchandising, film and television, and sports video games—utilize celebrity persona as a key component of their products. Based on empirical research, this book offers an in-depth examination of the commercial use of persona. You can read our review here. 

Intellectual Property and the Design of Nature

Edited by Jose Bellido and Brad Sherman, this book, with its beautiful imagery, explores the role of nature in the intellectual property ecosystem through a series of 13 insightful contributions. For a detailed review, check out our very own plant expert Jocelyn Bosse’s review here.

Reforming Intellectual Property

Edited by Gustavo Ghidini and Valeria Falce, this collection features contributions from 19 experts discussing IP reforms with a focus on the public. Honored as the 2023 IPKat Book of the Year for Best Line by Hayleigh Bosher, this book is a standout for its refreshingly digestible narrative. Discover the winning line in her review here.

Forever

In Forever, the first volume of the Coexistence Trilogy by Daniel J. Gervais, the boundaries between humans and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) blur in a gripping legal sci-fi narrative. This thought-provoking novel explores the complexities of their interaction, weaving together legal and philosophical themes in a future where coexistence is both a challenge and an opportunity. Have a look in our review here.

Overlapping Intellectual Property Rights (Second Edition)

Edited by Neil Wilkof, Shamnad Basheer, and Irene Calboli, this comprehensive book features 21 chapters, each examining a specific pair of IP rights. This Kat must admit that, while it may be a bit bulky for a summer tote, it’s definitely worth the extra weight. Check out our review here.

Copyright and Cartography

In this book, Isabella Alexander traces the evolution of copyright in relation to maps, examining its impact on the creation, publication, commercialization, circulation, and use of both maps and the geographical information they convey. Plus, the cover is stunning, featuring Greece front and center—a perfect summer destination to accompany your reading! For our review, check here. 

The EU Geo-Blocking Regulation: A Commentary

Marketa Trimble offers an exceptional commentary on the Geo-Blocking Regulation, highlighting the increasing "geographical awareness" of the internet. It’s the perfect read to have by your side while you tackle the all-too-familiar challenge of streaming your favorite series from a hotel room. Access my review here. 

And there you have it! Pack your swimsuits, grab that high-SPF sunscreen, tuck your IP book into your tote, and head off to the beach!