Intellectual property rights – copyrights, patents, database rights and the like – are challenged as never before by the digital revolution.   Can they survive?   Should they survive?

After a 40-year career advising technologists and technology companies, artists and arts organisations, governments and policy-makers, Hamish Sandison explores the technological challenges, and evaluates the responses of courts and legislatures around the world.

Why have some new technologies such as computer programs been shoe-horned into exiting IPR regimes such as copyright for legal protection?   Why have other technologies such as big data been considered deserving of legal protection under sui generis IPR regimes such as the EU database right?   How should these new technologies be protected, if at all?


Each year the OIPRC hosts a number of leading academics from around the world as part of its Invited Speaker Series. These events typically run from 5:15-6:45pm on Thursday evenings at St. Peter’s College; if the venue or time is different, it will be noted on the Events calendar.  The Speaker Series consists of a presentation of about 45 minutes, followed by a Q&A session with the assembled group of academic staff, students (both undergraduate and graduate), researchers, and interested members of the public.  Discussion is informal and includes participants from several disciplines, with a wide range of prior knowledge.

Convenors: Graeme DinwoodieDev Gangjee and Robert Pitkethly

Refreshments and snacks are served at the conclusion of the discussion.  All are welcome.