Geographical indications as global knowledge commons: Ostrom's law on common intellectual property and collective action

Abstract In this article, we reconceptualize, using an extended discrete and dynamic Ostrom's classification, the specific intellectual property (IP) regimes that support geographical indications (GIs) as ‘knowledge commons’, e.g. a set of shared collective knowledge resources constituting complex ecosystem created by group people has remained subject to social dilemma. Geographical names are usually considered part public domain. However, under certain circumstances, have also been appropriated through trademark registration. Our analysis suggests IP laws GIs first emerged in Europe spread worldwide response threat undue usurpation or private confiscation We thus emphasize nature tradeoffs faced when shifting from domain common regimes, defined EU legislation pertaining GIs. context trade globalization, compare pros cons regulating ex-ante rather than engaging ex-post litigation courts.