Analysis of the legal status of the unauthorized license contract with the emphasis on the system of patent law

Document Type : Research Article

Author

Assistance Professor, Faculty of Law and Political Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad

Abstract

One of the fundamental questions related to the analysis of intellectual property contract law is the status of the unauthorized license agreement. If the licensor granting the exploitation right to the licensee is not the owner of the intellectual property rights, what is the legal status of this contract? To answer to the question, there are three doctrines. Some of them recognize the non-nullity of the license agreement because, in case of an unauthorized contract, the nullity could maintain the owner's exclusive rights. Another group, according to the general rules of contracts, supports the invalidity of the contract. However, some doctrines recognize the validity of a contract. Their arguments are based on innovation and creativity in intellectual property, conflicting with the principles of patents, and protecting the owner who has the good faith with an emphasis on economic analysis. Thus, they conclude that the unauthorized license contract is concluded correctly. Therefore, the owner could not nullify the contract. The present article criticizes the situation of nullity and invalidity. It analyses and criticizes the invalidity and nullity and concludes that the situation of invalidity is more in line with the legal rules of the domestic system.

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Main Subjects

References

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Private Law
Volume 18, Issue 2
Autumn & Winter
October 2021
Pages 417-438

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