Topic 4

Theme 4: Intellectual Property Rights, Development and Human Rights

30 June - 6 July, 2014

Learning Objective(s):

Critically examine the massively important role of intellectual property rights in the contemporary world; analyze how IPRs can have an impact on human rights and development issues; understand what are the most important policy issues for developing and least developed countries in the global negotiations on IPR; to specifically understand development policy issues in the context of Traditional Knowledge/Biopiracy as well as in the context of public health and access to medicines.

Required Readings:

1. Arewa, O. 2006. "TRIPS and Traditional Knowledge: Local Communities, Local Knowledge, and Global Intellectual Property Frameworks" in Marquette Intellectual Property Law Review, 10, P. 155-180
2. Siew Kuan, E. 2009. "Balancing Patents and Access to Medicine" in Singapore Academy of Law Journal, 21, P. 457-484.

Optional Readings: 

1. Dutfield, G. "Making TRIPS work for Developing Countries" chapter 12 in Sampson and Chambers (eds.), Developing Countries and the WTO: Policy Approaches, Tokyo: UNU Press, P. 141 – 168
2. Grover, A. 2009. “Report Of The Special Rapporteur On The Right Of Everyone To The Enjoyment Of The Highest Attainable Standard Of Physical And Mental Health”, A/HRC/11/12
3. WTO. 2006. “Fact Sheet on TRIPS and Pharmaceutical Patents”, available at http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/factsheet_pharm00_e.htm
4. Amollo, R. 2009. "Revisiting the Trips Regime: Rwanda-Canadian ARV Drug Deal Tests the WTO General Council Decision" in African Journal of International and Comparative Law, 17, P. 240-269.
5. Dwyer, L. 2008. "Biopiracy, Trade and Sustainable Development" in Colorado Journal of International Environmental Law and Policy, 19, P. 219-257.

Presentation: