Suchergebnisse

The boundaries between scientific and technological knowledge are nebulous in some technical fields, such as the biological sciences and their applications. This has led to the appropriation under patents of knowledge (such as on specific genes) of scientific nature, which may not only have negative effects for the further development of science and new technological contributions, but also encroach on the fundamental right of access to science. The patenting policies adopted by some universities and other research institutions may aggravate this problem. Court decisions in the USA and Australia and some national laws (e.g. Brazil) have limited the possibility of that appropriation, which is still feasible, however, in many jurisdictions. Other measures - such as a well formulated research exception, the limitation of the patent claims' scope, and legislation mandating open access to research results achieved with public funding - may mitigate the effects of the exclusivity granted by patent rights, but more fundamental policy changes may be necessary in order to preserve scientific outcomes in the public domain for free use and follow-on research.

Despite the decline in the discovery of new chemical entities for pharmaceutical use, there is a significant proliferation of patents on products and processes that cover minor, incremental innovations. A study conducted in five developing countries - Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, India and South Africa - evidenced a significant proliferation of 'evergreening' pharmaceutical patents that can block generic competition and thereby limit access to medicines. It also found that both the nature of pharmaceutical learning and innovation and the interest of public health are best served in a framework where rigorous standards of inventive step are used to grant patents. The analysis suggests that local firms in developing countries are better supported in a framework where patent protection for minor incremental innovations is not allowed. The study also suggests that with the application of well-defined patentability standards, governments could avoid spending the political capital necessary to grant and sustain compulsory licenses/government use. If patent applications were correctly scrutinized, there would be no need to have recourse to such measures.

El proceso de informatizacion latinoamericano, iniciado hace tres decadas, se ha realizado sin un planeamiento global y con serias deficiencias en cuanto a la explotacion de los sistemas instalados. Si bien America Latina posee aun una proporcion pequena del parque computacional mundial, la difusion de la informatica se ha acelerado en los ultimos anos, a partir de la emergencia de la microcomputadora. La cooperacion regional, en la que se advierten ciertos avances, es concebida por el autor como un elemento esencial para el desarrollo futuro del sector

Cover; Contents; Tables, Figures and boxes; Abbreviations; Preface; Chapter one: Introduction; Part one: FDI, development and national and international policy framework; Chapter two: Foreign direct investment, host government policy and development; Chapter three: Multilateral Agreements on Investments: a historical background; Appendix one: Draft United Nations Code of Conduct on Transnational Corporations as of summer 1986; Appendix two: Multilaterally agreed equitable principles and rules; Part two: The Agreement on Trade-Related Investment Measures and developing countries.

TRIPS : background, principles and general provisions / Abdulqawi A. Yusuf -- Universal minimum standards of intellectual property protection under the TRIPS component of the WTO agreement / Jerome H. Reichman -- The application and interpretation of the agreement on trade-related / Andres Moncayo von Hase -- Copyright and related rights / Alberto Bercovitz -- The trademark provisions in the TRIPS agreement / Irene Calboli & Christine Haight Farley -- The evolving regime for geographical indications in WTO and in free trade agreements (1996-2015) / David Vivas-Eugui & Christoph Spennemann -- Industrial designs and TRIPS / Jeremy Phillips -- Patent rights / Carlos M. Correa -- Plant variety protection : options under the TRIPS agreement / Viola Prifti -- Layout designs of integrated circuits / Carlos m Correa -- Protection of undisclosed information / Francois Dessemontet -- Competition policy and the TRIPS agreement : the control of anti-competitive practices in contractual licences / Pedro Roffe & Christoph Spennemann -- TRIPS dispute settlement and developing country interests / Mohamed Omar Gad -- Human rights and intellectural property rights / Xavier Seuba -- The TRIPS agreement and public health / Sisule F. Musungu

This South Centre research paper discusses first, the limitations of the current research and development (R&D) model and its implications for access to medicines. Second, it considers the tension between intellectual property rights applied to medicines and States' observance of the fundamental right to health. Third, it examines the case of access to medicines for the treatment of Hepatitis C, illustrating the barriers to access created by intellectual property and the high prices normally associated with its exercise. Fourth, it presents the background, main aspects and obstacles to the achievement of the objectives of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health (2001). To conclude, this paper examines the experiences of compulsory licensing and government use of patents in Latin America (particularly in Ecuador, Peru and Colombia).

Este documento de investigación del South Centre analiza primero las limitaciones del modelo actual de investigación y desarrollo (I&D) y sus implicaciones para el acceso a los medicamentos. En segundo lugar, considera la tensión entre los derechos de propiedad intelectual aplicados a los medicamentos y la observancia de los Estados del derecho fundamental a la salud. En tercer lugar, examina el caso del acceso a medicamentos para el tratamiento de la hepatitis C, ilustrando las barreras de acceso creadas por la propiedad intelectual y los altos precios normalmente asociados con su ejercicio. En cuarto lugar, presenta los antecedentes, los principales aspectos y los obstáculos para el logro de los objetivos de la Declaración de Doha sobre el Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC y la Salud Pública (2001). Para concluir, este documento examina la concesión de licencias obligatorias y el uso por el gobierno de patentes, en experiencias en América Latina (en particular, Ecuador, Perú y Colombia). ; This South Centre research paper discusses first, the limitations of the current research and development (R&D) model and its implications for access to medicines. Second, it considers the tension between intellectual property rights applied to medicines and States' observance of the fundamental right to health. Third, it examines the case of access to medicines for the treatment of Hepatitis C, illustrating the barriers to access created by intellectual property and the high prices normally associated with its exercise. Fourth, it presents the background, main aspects and obstacles to the achievement of the objectives of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health (2001). To conclude, this paper examines the experiences of compulsory licensing and government use of patents in Latin America (particularly in Ecuador, Peru and Colombia).

While increasing support from WTO members for a proposed waiver from certain obligations under the TRIPS Agreement with regard to health products required for responding to COVID-19 has made a decision on the TRIPS waiver imminent, the waiver will have to be implemented domestically by WTO members through appropriate legislative, administrative or judicial measures, including through executive orders that have been utilized to implement emergency measures in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this regard, the scope of the TRIPS waiver, as well as the terms of applicable free trade agreements (FTAs) and international investment agreements (IIAs) will also impact the policy space available to countries to implement the waiver. Ensuring a broad scope of the waiver, as well as complementary measures to safeguard the implementation of the waiver from potential challenges under FTAs or IIAs will be critical. This research paper discusses some options that could be explored to enable the implementation of the TRIPS waiver by overcoming possible impediments that could arise under such agreements.