Workshop: 'Competition, Innovation, Law'

On October 24th the Institute for Law and Development held a workshop in the framework of the International Conference "Law in the Digital Environment".

In the post-industrial chrysalis of our information society, the knowledge economy raises the question about further development of the law in changing circumstances. Not only new concepts but new fields of law are emerging; at the forefront is information rights. The totality of these issues requires a comprehensive analysis and the development of an integrated approach. The International Conference 'Law in the Digital Environment' aimed to summarise current practice, identify the most problematic areas, and advance proposals for the further development of legislation, and set forth an approach for lawyers from different countries to face the challenge of identifying both general and specific avenues across jurisdictions.

 

The Institute workshop meeting was devoted to the interaction of competition and intellectual property rights in the modern information society. The moderator, Institute Director Alexey Ivanov noted that the new realities and technological trends entail the modernisation of scientific approaches in the field of law and institutional development. Therefore, to take an example, intellectual property is increasingly integrated in antitrust, and this trend is validated, for instance, in the recent European decision in the case of Google.

 

Researcher at the Institute Yu Qiang spoke about the notable conflict that today is relevant in the scope of copyright in the digital era: on the one hand, rights holders should be rewarded and should have the opportunity to earn, while on the other hand, the restriction of access to information leads to a narrowing of the innovation base that empowers development. Senior researcher Elena Voinikanis described the concept of open innovation, which, according to her today is one of the major viable models for the development of science and high technology in businesses, as evidenced by successful practitioners. Lead researcher Ekaterina Galkova spoke about the disruptive blockchain technology and its legal aspects and regulation. Alexey Sokolov, Deputy Director of the Skolkovo Department of Legal Policy presented a futuristic view of the development of law as a profession in connection with the advent of new technologies and the rapid development of robotics. Researcher Maxim Karliuk delivered a report on policy in the field of intellectual property for the Eurasian Economic Union.