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Bubela, Tania --- "Introduction" [2009] ELECD 495; in Castle, David (ed), "The Role of Intellectual Property Rights in Biotechnology Innovation" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2009)

Book Title: The Role of Intellectual Property Rights in Biotechnology Innovation

Editor(s): Castle, David

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781847209801

Section Title: Introduction

Author(s): Bubela, Tania

Number of pages: 6

Extract:

Introduction
Tania Bubela

The chapters in this part discuss the wider social context in which scientists
and industry create and distribute innovation. They explore policy options
for intellectual property rights (IPRs) selected by public institutions and
governments to manage innovation in biotechnology at institutional,
national and international levels and the economic, social and ethical
goals of IPRs as a component of innovation governance. The chapters
consider whether the stated goals are being met, using empirical evidence,
where possible, and potential IPR policy formulations that may maximize
economic and social benefits flowing from biotechnology innovation.
Public opinion, our ability to regulate the use of technology and other
concerns all play a role in shaping what innovation occurs and how it is
introduced. Tim Caulfield's chapter analyses the problems surrounding
public trust both in biotechnology research and in the products of bio-
technology. Maintaining public trust is crucial for any kind of research,
especially biomedical research, because of the need for dedicated public
funds over the long term. Rightly or wrongly, biotechnology patents have
become a flashpoint for the public as well as being the focus of policy
debates as a proxy for more general concerns about commercialization
of biomedical research. If we probe this generalized public angst around
commodification of biomedical research, public survey data suggest that
people are concerned about patenting life and the issue of access to tech-
nologies. There is a plethora of evidence that public trust in biomedical
research is very fragile and that the research ...