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The continuous development of new technologies, especially the Internet and the digital environment (virtual reality, metaverse), poses a number of theoretical and practical problems related to the conflicting interests of entities operating in these areas. This applies both to content providers (creators) and users of available goods (users), as well as to entities that mediate the exchange of data (e.g., streaming platforms). Existing laws often do not clearly answer the question of who is entitled to rights over digital goods and what is the content of these rights. Numerous legal and axiological doubts are raised, among others, by the following issues: protection of creations of artificial intelligence, users' rights to virtual objects available in online games, liability of the server administrator for infringement of exclusive rights by third parties (Internet users of the platform).
Progressive technological development, particularly in the areas of biotechnology and mass production, is also generating new challenges for current industrial property law regulation. In some cases, it is necessary to adapt the law to evolving forms of innovation in order to effectively shape and protect intellectual property rights. Advances in genetic engineering are generating debate over the patentability of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and genes. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, questions are being raised about access to medical inventions, particularly those related to the treatment or prevention of infectious diseases.
In addition, the progressive processes of standardization of manufacturing methods generate problems of counterfeiting of unique traditional products, which are carriers of identity and cultural heritage of European countries. More and more attention is being paid precisely to the need for proper protection of intangible cultural heritage, including works of folk art and traditional knowledge. This is because these elements are threatened today by unrestricted commercialization and the phenomenon of so-called cultural appropriation, leading to misrepresentation and obliteration of the cultural identity of individual social, ethnic or cultural groups.
One of the basic goals of intellectual property law is to ensure a balance between the conflicting interests of creators and users (entities that use the created goods). The mission of the "Intellectual Property Law Review" is to create a space for the search for such legal solutions that will ensure the said balance in an axiologically justified manner. The purpose of the journal is to initiate scientific discussion and, as a result, to publish articles that will indicate proposed solutions to specific practical problems or propose the theoretical basis for appropriate legal regulations - where the intervention of the legislator is necessary.
„Przegląd Prawa Własności Intelektualnej” ["Intellectual Property Law Review"] is one of the few journals in Poland devoted exclusively to the protection of intellectual property law in its broadest sense. The journal publishes articles related to one of three research areas:
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copyright law,
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industrial property law,
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and the law of new technologies.
The journal has a specialized character - it is addressed to experts in the above-mentioned fields - both scientists and practitioners (attorneys, legal advisers, patent attorneys, judges). In particular, the Editorial Board accepts papers on the following issues:
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the object of copyright and its protection,
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related rights,
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the object of industrial property law and its protection,
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artificial intelligence, digital content, virtual reality,
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advertising law,
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competition law (know-how, trade secrets),
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protection of folklore, traditional knowledge and intangible cultural heritage,
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European Union law and public international law insofar as they relate to the protection of intangible goods.
The journal publishes articles in Polish or English. All studies appearing in the Intellectual Property Law Review are available in open access (as defined by the Directory of Open Access Journals). Access to electronic publications with scientific and educational content of the journal is open, free, universal, permanent and fast. Any Internet user has the right to read, copy, print, share, index, cite and search open access resources, including full texts of articles. The user uses these resources without any financial, legal or technical restrictions, but retains the copyright of the creator and the Publisher.
The editors of the Intellectual Property Law Review apply anti-plagiarism and anti-duplication procedures and standards for avoiding conflicts of interest. The editors ensure that ethical principles and principles of scientific integrity are observed. The publication principles applied are in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). The journal follows the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.
"Intellectual Property Law Review" is published by the Publishing House of the University of Silesia in Katowice and is headed by scientific editors (listed under EDITORIAL BOARD). The editors are assisted by the editorial teams of the Publishing House. All works are published under the "Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International" license, which the authors transfer to the University of Silesia Publishing House upon publication (by making an appropriate declaration). The license granted to the University of Silesia Publishing House is non-exclusive, so the authors retain full copyright and publication rights without restriction. The journal does not restrict authors from submitting their work to institutional or other repositories (this applies to all versions of the text: submitted to the Intellectual Property Law Review, accepted and published).
No fees are charged for the publication of papers in the journal. Fees are also not charged for review and editorial procedures. The costs of editing, reviewing and publishing articles in the journal are borne by the University of Silesia from its own funds.
