Preface

• Author: David Vaver
• Pages: 27-28

xxvii

PR EFAC E

Much has happened in the intellectual property (IP) f‌ield since the f‌irst

edition of this book came out in 1997: new laws, scholarly writing, and

precedents, including some key deci sions from the Supreme Court of

Canada, which ha s scr utinized the f‌ield more inten sely th an ever be-

fore. Advances i n science, technology, communications, and network-

ing have challenged IP law, policy, and enforcement. The public is also

ever more interested in and vocal about how IP law af fects or should

affect their behaviour. While IP rights holders press for more control,

competitors, consumers, and the general public demand more freedom

from IP. The debate proceeds apace domestically and intern ationally.

So a second edition of this book is well overdue. While the basic

structure and main ideas of the f‌i rst edition are largely ret ained, much

text has been rewritten, and fresh sections and material have been add-

ed to ref‌lect recent developments. The book has grow n longer but is

still, I hope, succinct and readable. The citation of case law and second-

ary work remains selective, but more comparative material is included.

IP law is truly international a nd Canadian law i s much inf‌luenced by,

and itself inf‌luences, foreign law and policy.

The aim is to make IP law and policy accessible to whoever wishes

to know more about them, be they students, lawyers, or members of

the general public, particularly those who rely, whether they know it

or not, on IP i n their daily lives. For only when the law is understood

in all its nuance wil l it receive the informed and constructive attention

and criticism it consta ntly needs.