IPKat Launch: Repository of Non-English IP Titles

 

It is finally up and running! In March 2022, PermaKat Neil Wilkof announced an IPKat initiative to create a repository of non-English IP titles for Kat readers. The idea was to make it easier to identify IP publications in languages other than English. In so doing, this envisaged "Repository of Non-English IP Titles" would provide a window into the IP literature landscape for countries whose native language is not English. Underlying this project was a commitment to the value of different languages, different countries, and the beauty of not always seeing things through the same linguistic and cultural lens. The results can be found here (click on File and select Download).

The process of creating the Repository is noteworthy. It took form and substance due to the indefatigable efforts of Kat friend Erva Akin (thank you so much, Erva!). First, following a Kat call announcing the initative, a questionnaire was designed to elict recommendations for titles to be included. A cut-off publication of 2000 was set (meaning books published prior to this date are to be excluded). We did not accept self-recommendations and, if necessary, consulted with another IP practitioner from the same country about such titles.

We received over 90 recommendations from IPKat readers, covering Belgium, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Greece Israel, Italy, Peru, Poland, Spain, Switzerland, Netherlands, Turkey/Türkiye and Vietnam. Based on this information, the Repository aggregated country-by-country information on IP titles, including series and multi-chapter edited volumes.

We thank the following Kat readers who suggested titles for the Repository; without their efforts, creating the Repository would have been impossible: Aleksandra Czubek, Ana Marín, Bohdan Widła, Carlo Sala, Deyanira Camacho, Elif Beyza Akkanat, Estelle Derclaye, Eyüp Kun, Florine Pinckaers, Javier Guillem Carrau, Joshua Sarnoff, Julia Holden, Julia Hugendubel, Kübra Avcı, Leonardo Maria Seri, Manuel Areán Lalín, Marina A Perraki, Michael Birnhack, Michal Shur-Ofry, Monica Wolf, Otávio Henrique Baumgarten Arrabal, Peter Ling, Roi Ohayon, Şehriban İpek Aşıkoğlu, Stefania Ercolani, Valentina Torelli, Vy Huynh, and Yu Du (with an IPKat apology if we inadvertedly excluded anyone). On behalf of IPKat—thank you all!

The Repository strives to include quality IP contributions of note. IPKat hopes that the Repository will attain its goal of serving the IP community as broadly as possible.

No project should be completed without revealing some interesting facts about the first iteration of the Repository.

• We didn’t receive any recommendations for the book published in 2010.
• Spain has the most titles on the list, with 24 titles.
• Some titles are recommended by multiple people, indicating a degree of consensus on their value.

Kat readers are encouraged to view the Registry, especially when there is a professional need to identify such books. Keep checking back for updates. Even more, Kat readers are urged to advise IPKat of additional titles worthy of inclusion. As mentioned above, the Repository and related information can be found here (click on File and select Download).