Patent Law

A Day in the Life of an IP Blog

By Stephen Albainy-Jenei

This month’s issue of WIPO Magazine features an article about the daily blogging life of IPKat blogger Jeremy Phillips, named by Managing Intellectual Property Magazine in 2005 as one of the 50 most influential “people” in the IP world. Jeremy shares some thoughts on the rise of the IP blog.

In offering insights into IP blogging, Jeremy raises an interesting: “But can you trust them?” To this, he responds:

Critics of blogs complain that, while law journals are refereed and books carefully checked before publication, blogs undergo no equivalent quality control process. That?s true, but most blogs enable readers to post their own comments, so that a blogger?s mistakes can be pointed out, his questions answered and his position on issues of the day endorsed or rejected. Most IP bloggers also cite their sources or hyperlink directly to the source of their information.

Other critics object that bloggers are too selective: they may write up the Da Vinci Code dispute if they like the outcome, but ignore the spat over plagiarism of Harry Potter if they don?t. This criticism misses the point: a blog records what the blogger wants to get across. It is not an encyclopaedia ? and what for example Patent Baristas chooses to leaves out, Patently-O may wish to feast on ? or vice versa.

So, what does it take to be an IP blogger? Jeremy sums it up nicely in stating “Asking what it is like being an IP blogger is a bit like asking what it?s like to be a human being.” Although, he mentions that it helps to have patient and understanding family and colleagues.

So, what does Jeremy think is in it for the bloggers?

Some of us do it out of a missionary zeal to convert readers to IP in general, or to our personal views concerning it. Others seek to build up recognition, and hence business, in their fields of expertise. Some just do it for the fun. But there?s one thing you can be sure of: for as long as blogs are free, none of us does it for the money!

We concur. 

If you know of a new IP blog that should be noticed, let us know.

Full post as published by Patent Baristas on April 24, 2008 (boomark / email).