Title: Intellectual property and biotechnology: trade interests of developing countries

Authors: Jayashree Watal

Addresses: Visiting Fellow, Institute for International Economics, 11 Dupont Circle, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA

Abstract: Biotechnology has the potential to provide the answers to some of the developing world|s most intractable problems. There is scope for developing countries to interpret the provisions of the WTO TRIPS Agreement on biotechnology at different levels, as evidenced by differing interpretations in the developed world. Equally, however, demands of developing countries on biodiversity-related issues can be countered through the ambiguities in the Convention on Biological Diversity. Instead of attempting to amend TRIPS, developing countries should aim to obtain access to the new technologies, at reasonable terms, by collaboration and not confrontation with their owners, with the help of multilateral developmental institutions.

Keywords: agriculture; biotechnology; biodiversity; bioprospecting; breeders| exemption; CBD; compulsory licenses; environment; farmers| privilege; farmers| rights; genetic resources; Genetic Use Restriction Technologies; genetically modified organisms; indigenous knowledge; intellectual property rights; patents; pharmaceuticals; plant breeders| rights; plant variety protection; trade secrets; traditional knowledge; TRIPS Agreement; UPOV; WTO.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBT.2000.000139

International Journal of Biotechnology, 2000 Vol.2 No.1/2/3, pp.44-55

Published online: 13 Jul 2003 *

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