Overview
Introduction In today's globalised economy, commercial activities tend to expand beyond the borders of one geographical area. Businesses are beginning to look outward for sustainability and protability. The protection of Intellectual Property rights (IPRs) is largely rooted within national boundaries extending only as far as the conferring state, and this raises a critical risk for businesses and investors. Against this backdrop, there is a need for the international protection of intellectual property rights. This is because, beyond safeguarding innovation and goodwill, the international protection of IP rights will help promote cross-border investment, encourage knowledge transfer, and strengthen the legal basis for 1 global trade. Accordingly, this paper provides an insight into the rationale behind international protection of IPRs, the registration system structures at the international level, including the Madrid System, the Hague System, and the Patent Cooperation Treaty, as well as at the regional level. It ultimately outlines the practical challenges and emerging issues that shape the future of IP protection.
