This book brings together leading scholars from South Asia and beyond to examine the development of intellectual property (IP) law within the national legal systems in South Asia.
It is the first comprehensive effort to consolidate the region’s IP practices and narratives within a single edited volume. Highlighting diverse approaches in countries such as India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, the book embraces local legal ethos and promotes comparative studies at regional and
international levels.
Structured in three parts, Part 1 addresses IP through development and social justice lenses, covering IP theory, geographical indications, technology transfer, and de-colonisation. Part 2 examines recent legislative and judicial developments across the region. Part 3 offers comparative insights with a focus on institutions, courts and practices.
Each contribution addresses innovative IP practices and emerging challenges in South Asia, offering a platform for further discussion among scholars, policymakers, and stakeholders.
Edited by:
Pratyush Nath Upreti (Queen’s University Belfast UK)
Imprint: Hart Publishing
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 234mm,
Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781509978809
ISBN 10: 1509978801
Pages: 384
Publication Date: 30 October 2025
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
College/higher education
,
Undergraduate
,
Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
1. Intellectual Property in South Asia: An Introduction, Pratyush Nath Upreti (Queen’s University Belfast, UK) Part I: Intellectual Property, History and Development 2. Intellectual Property and Social Justice: Remembering the Contribution of Professor Shamnad Basheer, Swaraj Barooah (SPICY IP, India) 3. The Mahatma, Swami and Gurudev Examined: Is there an Indian Theory of Intellectual Property? Yogesh Pai (National Law University Delhi, India) 4. The Indian Patent Office 1911-1950: Colonized as Administrator of Technology Transfer Précis, Shubha Ghosh (Syracuse University, USA) 5. Geographical Indication for Sustainable Development in South Asia: Developing a Decolonial Approach, Devanshi Saxena (University of Antwerp, Belgium) 6. Framing Intellectual Property for Inclusive Development, Pratyush Nath Upreti and Niharika Salar (Queen’s University Belfast, UK) Part II: Intellectual Property Developments in South Asia 7. Shaping an IP Regime for Sri Lanka: From the Decorative to the Functional, Naazima Kamardeen (University of Colombo, Sri Lanka), 8. Balancing Copyright Incentives and Educational Needs: Analyzing Educational Use Exceptions in Indian Copyright Law, Arul George Scaria and Varsha Javar (National Law School of India University, India) 9. Empirical Analysis of Trade Mark Litigation in Nepal, Pratyush Nath Upreti (Queen’s University Belfast) 10. Welfare Implications of TRIPS-Compliant Patent Litigation in Pakistan: Public Health and Sustainable Development Goals, Muhammad Zaheer Abbas (Queensland University of Technology, Australia) Aziz Ur Rehman (Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan) and Muhammad Mubeen (Green International University, Pakistan) 11. Afghanistan’s Compliance with TRIPS Agreement: Challenges, Progress, and Implications, Awal Khan Ahmadzai (Regional Studies Center, Science Academy of Afghanistan, Kabul) Part III: Institutions, Courts and Practices 12. Patenting Inventions in Bangladesh: Compatibility with TRIPS and South Asian Practices, Mohammad Towhidul Islam (University of Dhaka, Bangladesh) and Sadman Rizman (BRAC University, Bangladesh) 13. Copyright and Education: Fair Access to Learning Materials in South Asian Countries, Chamila S Talagala (Charles Darwin University, Australia) 14. The Role and Importance of a National IP Policy in Crafting a Progressive, Balanced and Equitable Domestic IP Legal Framework: Lessons for Sri Lanka from its Regional Neighbours, Althaf Marsoof (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) 15. Position of Women in the Field of Intellectual Property: South Asian Perspectives, Gargi Chakrabarti (Dharmashastra National Law University, India) 16. Intellectual Property Teaching in South Asia, Lokesh Vyas (Sciences Po Law School, France)
Pratyush Nath Upreti is Reader in Intellectual Property Law at Queen’s University Belfast, UK.
Reviews for Intellectual Property Debates in South Asia: Law, Development, and Practice
While the intellectual property law in India is generally well known, the South Asia region as a whole continues to be overlooked. This collection, elegantly and coherently curated by Dr Upreti, provides a valuable service to all scholars of global IP law by addressing this glaring omission and showing that the IP laws of this region really do matter. A thoroughly recommended reading for all aficionados of comparative intellectual property policies and laws. * Professor Uma Suthersanen, Chair in Global Intellectual Property Law, Queen Mary University of London, UK *
