Title: Blockchain technology and intellectual property protection: a systematic literature review

Authors: Nuo Li; Haiqiang Zhang; Rong Du; Shizhong Ai; Yang Zheng; Cathal MacSwiney Brugha

Addresses: School of Economics and Management, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China ' Beike Zhaofang Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China ' School of Economics and Management, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China ' School of Economics and Management, Xidian University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China ' Alibaba Group, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China ' School of Business, University College Dublin, Belfield Dublin 4, Ireland

Abstract: Many products and services require intellectual property protection (IPP). The current IPP schemes suffer from unclear ownership and potential risks of data tampering, among other drawbacks. Recent research has documented a significant need to address these issues. Blockchain presents an opportunity for IPP to help solve existing problems. This study attempts to conduct a systematic review of research on the applications of blockchain to IPP. To summarise existing research findings and provide a theoretical basis for scholars and practitioners, the authors' team used online databases (WOS, CNKI and CSSCI) to identify a total of 172 papers related to 'blockchain applications in IPP', then selected 82 papers for further analysis based on the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). As a result, the paper analyses existing research topics and identifies directions that can be further investigated. The authors conclude that the urgent research directions to be explored in the future include blockchain technology architecture, IP laws and regulations, and IP management applications and operations.

Keywords: blockchain; intellectual property protection; IPP; literature review; PRISMA protocol.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBC.2022.124008

International Journal of Blockchains and Cryptocurrencies, 2022 Vol.3 No.2, pp.112 - 130

Received: 23 Mar 2021
Accepted: 10 Sep 2021
Published online: 07 Jul 2022 *

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