Rethinking Copyright for Sustainable Human Development : Higher Education and Access to Knowledge

This book explores the interface between copyright and higher education, and their complementarities for the advancement of sustainable human development. In its broader sense, the concept of human development is noted as a set of freedoms and human capabilities that are essential for human flourishing.

Adopting a rights-based human development and capability approach (HDCA), this book primarily examines the relevant policy and legal flexibilities under the existing international copyright system, and their implications for access to knowledge required for creative innovation and higher education. Exploring the interfaces between copyright and higher education, this book argues that an unbalanced and restrictive copyright system impedes reasonable access to knowledge, and stifles creative and learning freedoms or capabilities. In effect, a restrictive copyright system results in serious ramifications for sustainable human development. In view of its findings, this book underscores the need for rethinking copyright and reframing its relevant flexibilities as users' rights that are vital for promoting creative and learning capabilities towards sustainable human development. Further, the book emphasizes the complementarities between copyright and higher education, and their joint roles for sustainable human development.

Given its application of the HDCA to explore ranges of interlinked topics, this book will be of a great interest to researchers across the fields of intellectual property law, innovation, global development, human rights, and higher education.

Dr. Sileshi Bedasie Hirko is a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Advanced Scholar and a Postdoctoral Fellow affiliated with University of Ottawa and Open African Innovation Research Organization (Open AIR). From 2015-2020, he was a PhD Fellow at Open AIR and a Doctoral Student Scholar at the Centre for International Governance Innovation. Prior to 2015, he worked as an Assistant Professor at Haramaya University in Ethiopia. In addition to the PhD in Law he holds from University of Ottawa in Canada, the author has earned his LL.B from Haramaya University in Ethiopia and LL.M from Munich Intellectual Property Law Center in Germany. Having specialized in laws with a special focus on international IP, Competition Law and human development, among others, Dr. Sileshi has made several publications in the fields. His major areas of research interests include international IP, innovation, competition law, human development, human rights and civil laws.