Inclusive Intellectual Property Rights? The Case of Collective Trademarks

Abstract

Collective trademarks are emerging as a form of intellectual property right with greater potential for inclusivity in generating development opportunities. The social dimension relates to the extent to which collective trademarks benefit a greater number of actors, as well as groups and communities that would otherwise have fewer opportunities to generate economic returns. The geographical dimension considers whether collective trademarks could be a viable alternative for more regions, including rural areas and those in the Global South. Unfortunately, empirical evidence on the use and effectiveness of collective trademarks in development strategies is scattered across different fields of study. We provide the first systematic review of existing research and use it to discuss prospects for further research on collective trademarks from a development perspective.