On 24 January 2025, a seminal judgement on the scope of intellectual property law and its correlation with human rights and criminal law came from the Supreme Court. In the case titled
The article from LiveLaw discusses the intersectionality of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) law and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, exploring how these legal frameworks interact within the context of identity politics and the knowledge economy. It highlights the challenges faced by marginalized communities in accessing and benefiting from IPR due to systemic barriers, including lack of education, resources, and representation. The piece argues that while IPR aims to foster innovation and economic growth, it often inadvertently perpetuates social inequalities by not adequately considering the socio-economic conditions of these communities. The author calls for a more inclusive approach to IPR that recognizes and addresses these disparities, suggesting that legal reforms should incorporate principles of social justice to ensure that the benefits of the knowledge economy are equitably distributed. This involves not only policy changes but also a cultural shift in how knowledge and innovation are perceived and valued across different social strata.