Challenges In Implementing Blockchain For IP Protection

The speedy evolution of digital technologies has raised serious challenges to the protection and enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). In the new context, blockchain technology was a game-changer with the ability to enhance IP protection through improved security, transparency, and immutability. This dissertation critically analyses the promise of blockchain technology in transforming IP management systems through its application in copyright protection, patent registration, trademark verification, and smart contract-based licensing. The research starts with the understanding of the conceptual framework of IPR and mapping current vulnerabilities in conventional means of IP protection. The research then continues to the discussion regarding the most notable characteristics of blockchain technology, i.e., decentralisation, immutability, and cryptography-based security, that cumulatively provide new solutions to eliminate such vulnerabilities. The research focuses on a few considerable case studies of blockchain use for IP management, e.g., applications that apply distributed ledgers for timestamping, digital identity management, and royalty administration. While it has a promising future, the application of blockchain in IP regimes is plagued by technical, regulative, and jurisdictional issues. This dissertation assesses the challenges and suggests policy interventions in the adoption of blockchain technology in the protection of IP. It stresses the imperative of having harmonised international legal frameworks to facilitate effective enforcement of blockchain-based IP regimes. The research concludes that the revolutionary possibility of blockchain safeguarding intellectual property in the cyber world is maximised while nurturing innovation and creativity. The research is intended for educating policymakers, IP stakeholders, and technology innovators to foster a safer and more effective IP system.