> "However, the concept of IP ownership -- let alone specifics of how its structured -- are a cultural and human construct." This "X is a social construct" mem

> "However, the concept of IP ownership -- let alone specifics of how its structured -- are a cultural and human construct." This "X is a social construct" meme has degenerated from meaning "it could have been designed/evolved differently" to "it doesn't matter, because it is relative so it might as well not be" - it's a terrible meme. There is a very big difference between claiming something is very wrong AND it follows an arbitrary decree or custom that was unjust, and claiming that whatever is socially constructed is also wrong. Pretty much every aspect of social life is a social construct. Justice is a social construct. Not killing each other over the slightest disagreement is a social construct. Pretty much every boundary, every aspect and definition that gives people meaning is a social construct. The case for somehow breaking up IP laws regionally, I don't think it's a very good one because it would effectively cut out entire regions from many developments. But "it's just a social construct" - that just doesn't make any case either way. BTW having separate, insular knowledge is what the current situation evolved from. Mutual certification and validation - say Rospatent being integrated into the Madrid System ( https://rospatent.gov.ru/en/activities/international_cooperation/madrid https://rospatent.gov.ru/en/activities/international_coopera... ) - is just a way to remove insularity and reduce costs for smaller IP owners without big pockets behind. What Russia is doing here is basically reneging accords, not some valiant pro-IP-freedom effort. This is a bit like US prints pirating the hell out of every British (+Empire) author after US independence. Just getting away with it, not some Libertarian movement.