Nari Lee is visiting CIPIL from 1 July to 31 August 2016. During her visit, she will work on her project entitled ‘The Invention of Meanings at the age of 3D printing’, exploring the challenges of disruptive innovation on the evolution of patent law. Using 3D printing technology as a case study, the project will explore various changing meanings of ‘working’ a patented invention. 3D printing technology substitutes importation of parts with data and courts are asked to interpret and create new meaning to patent law doctrines such as making, selling and importing of a patented invention. The paper will explore whether such new meanings should be limited to physical objects or may include intangible data.
Nari Lee is professor of intellectual property at Hanken School of Economics, Finland, where she has worked since 2012. She studied law at Ewha Womans University in Seoul, Korea, and at Kyushu University, Japan, where she received master of laws (LL.M) and doctor of laws (LL.D) degrees. She also holds a postgraduate degree (Licentiate) in Business Administration and Economics from University of Vaasa, Finland and a Ph.D from University of Eastern Finland, Finland. She has worked as a senior research fellow and a program director at Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition in Munich, Germany. Her research focus is on the interaction of law and technology. She has been writing on the theory of intellectual property, innovation and patent law and particularly on the alternative governance regime to intellectual property. Her recent publications include topics on open Innovation, pharmaceutical patents, and governance of intellectual property in China and Europe.