The blockchain ecosystem in the light of intellectual property law

Abstract

The study at hand delves into the technologies composing blockchain and designates its most significant practical applications to date. The technological ecosystem identified through this investigation is then scrutinized from the perspective of intellectual property law. It examines, in particular, under which conditions and to what extent blockchain itself as a standalone product, its individual components, and its several applications may be subject to a) copyright, b) database and trade secret protection, and c) patent law. The objective of this investigation is to identify the most suitable legal basis for raising claims against unauthorized use of the pertinent subject matter. The analysis also explores adversities posed to intellectual property law by modern technologies and contemplates their circumvention. The benchmark for this examination is the intellectual property law currently in force in the EU.