The report prepared by
an international expert group on biotechnology, innovation and IP
headed by Canada which aimed to develop a novel, data-intensive and
collaborative IP model in biotechnology innovation capable of
responding to developing countries' needs in food, health and industry,
has been keenly observed and commented on by Wagdy Sawahel in his
article "New IP Model Proposed To Facilitate Technology Access in Developing Countries" for Intellectual Property Watch.
The
author cites Richard Gold, professor of intellectual property at McGill
University and chair of the expert group, in saying that "the main
finding is that "the current way that industry and universities use IP
is not working to deliver the health, agricultural and energy
innovations that we are looking for. We call this way of dealing with
IP 'Old IP.'"
"Our
most important message is that governments, industry, universities,
researchers and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) need to abandon
the ways in which they have handled patents such as exclusive
licensing, looking only for short-term financial returns and mutual
blame between NGOs and industry," he said. Instead, what is needed is a
"New IP" system that focuses on "collaborative mechanisms" in
biotechnology and allows for technology dissemination in all countries
where it is needed.
Co-incidentally
the report was released with the launch of The Innovation Partnership
(TIP), an independent non-profit consultancy with experts in developed
and developing countries specializing in the use and management of
intellectual property and dedicated to working across "Old IP's" former
fiefdoms in order to build trust.
Wagdy
Sawahel, in his article also lays out an "IP Adaptation Roadmap for
Developing Countries". Here once again he quote Prof. Gold in
emphasizing that developing countries need to focus on building a
scientific infrastructure by partnering with high-income universities
to provide doctoral and post-doctoral students the opportunity to
conduct their research at home, urging developing countries to publicly
support and participate in mechanisms to bring medicines to their
citizens, such as UNITAID - an international drug purchase facility and
patent pool to unblock patents so that needed fixed dose combination
and pediatric antiretroviral medicines reach those suffering from
HIV/AIDS and also, developing countries need to study and learn from
the business models employed by developing country enterprises that
have succeeded in developing and selling technology.
