Robots and intEllEctual pRopERty

Abstract

this topic is part of the global issue concerning the necessity to adapt intellectual
property law to constant changes in technology. the relationship between robots
and iP is dual. On one hand, the robots may be regarded as objects of intellectual
property. a robot, like any new machine, could qualify for a protection by a
patent. a copyright may protect its appearance if it is original. its memory, like a
database, could be covered by a sui generis right. On the other hand, the question
of the protection of the outputs of the robot must be raised. the robots, as the
physical embodiment of artificial intelligence, are becoming more and more
autonomous. robot-generated works include less and less human inputs. are
these objects created or invented by a robot copyrightable or patentable? to
whom the ownership of these iP rights will be allocated ? to the person who
manufactured the machine ? to the user of the robot ? to the robot itself ? all
these questions are worth discussing.