Intellectual Property and the Design of Nature

Intellectual property law has been interacting with nature for over two centuries. Despite this long history, this relationship has largely been ignored. This volume fills this gap by bringing together scholars from different disciplines to examine the important role that nature plays in intellectual property law. Based on the idea that many contemporary issues require a better understanding of these historical interactions, the book reflects on the ways intellectual property law has engaged with and understood nature in the past. The varied contributions show how the relationship between nature and intellectual property law is often more complex, permeable, and porous than is commonly recognized.