Role of intellectual property rights in an inclusive smart city

The chapter explores the role of intellectual property (IP) in the context of inclusive smart cities, their utilization of IP, and the inclusivity of its provisions. Copyright and industrial property play distinctive roles in the inclusive smart city context. Copyright proves valuable in incorporating local communities into culture and information, while industrial property becomes crucial when implementing specific technical solutions. IP law holds significant importance in creating inclusive cities. It safeguards concepts and effective solutions in this process but can also be a barrier. Thus, city authorities must understand what is protected and how to gain entitlement to use them. Intellectual property law introduces a range of exemptions from exclusive protection, which promote inclusivity and allow cities to legally utilize protected rights without the consent of the rightsholder This flexibility and inclusivity of intellectual property law serve as major advantages in the context of creating inclusive smart cities.