Title: Transforming sustainability via competition law: a cutting-edge global framework for intellectual property

Authors: R. Gokul; E. Prema

Addresses: VIT School of Law, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai Campus, Tamil Nadu, 600127, India ' VIT School of Law, Vellore Institute of Technology, Chennai Campus, Tamil Nadu, 600127, India

Abstract: European Union (EU) competition law aims to maintain and boost economic efficiency, which enhances consumer welfare by preventing innovation- or static-driven anti-competitive activity. IP rights must be preserved to promote sustainable innovation. Company, global, and functional enterprises, goods, and services value Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). It explores the complicated relationships between IP rights, competition law, and sustainability, creating a new paradigm for accomplishing the SDGs. The report examines Intellectual Property Rights, competition law enforcement, and sustainability factors like environmental impact, social responsibility, economic viability, and technological innovation in 15 nations from 2000 to 2023. Regression analysis and panel corrected standard errors show that strong competition law enforcement boosts IP's role in green innovation, market competitiveness, and equitable technology access. Important studies show that competition rules increase intellectual property's sustainability, but poor enforcement reduces their usefulness. The study stresses that IP and competition rules must be harmonised for sustainability. Cross-tabulation and correlation analysis show how IP affects sustainability measures differently due to anti-competitive activity and market dominance rules. After analysing these relationships, the research makes policy proposals to align economic and legal systems with sustainability goals and enable innovation-driven, just global development.

Keywords: intellectual property; competition law; sustainability; European Union; EU; green innovation; market competitiveness; Sustainable Development Goals; SDGs.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIPM.2026.152065

International Journal of Intellectual Property Management, 2026 Vol.16 No.1, pp.70 - 100

Received: 21 Sep 2024
Accepted: 11 Dec 2024
Published online: 05 Mar 2026 *

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