INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IN DIGITAL
INFORMATION IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD CONTEXT:
A SCIENCE POLICY PERSPECTIVE

Paul F. Uhlir
National Research Council
Washington, DC
puhlir@nas.edu

I. Traditional IP Law in Data and Information

II. Key Characteristics of Digital Information and Electronic Networks in the IP Context

III. The Emerging IP Regime for Digital Data and Information

IV. Impact of the New Regime on Access to and Use of STI in Developing Countries

V. Restrictions on Publicly Generated STI

VI. The Importance of Scientific Values and the Role of Scientists in the IP Debate

VII. References

I. Traditional IP Law in Data and Information

• Copyright
• Trade secret
• Contract/licensing
• Unfair competition/commercial misappropriation

II. Key Characteristics of Digital Information and Electronic Networks in the IP Context

• Universal access
• Direct contact between vendor and user
• Easy identical copies
• Easy transformation
• Easy redissemination
• Unlimited potential for knowledge creation and economic exploitation

Potential problems for IPR protection

III. The Emerging IP Regime for Digital Data and Information

A. Changes to Old IP Law

• Copyright
• Trade secret
• Contract/licensing

B. New Mechanisms

• Technical protection measures
• Exclusive property right in noncopyrightable databases
• 1994 Agreement on Trade-Related aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS)

IV. Impact of the New Regime on Access to and Use of STI in Developing Countries

A. Positive aspects--TRIPS Agreement and new IP laws are expected to stimulate:

• Trade
• Foreign investment
• Availablity of proprietary information
• Private-sector activity within developing world*
• Possible concessions to developing countries
• Overall economic growth, worldwide

B. Negative aspects

• Lack of balance of interests in the new regime
• Strong protection favors existing, large business
• Supports monopoly or strong market positions
• Anti-competitive effects
• Increased costs
• Unprecedented restrictions on access AND use of STI
• Insufficient public interest exceptions
• Exceptions for developing countries unclear and high protectionist regime most likely negative

V. Restrictions on Publicly Generated STI

A. Government STI

• National security
• Privacy and confidentiality
• Cost recovery through commercialization (e.g., E.U. examples)
• Cost recovery or avoidance through privatization

B. Government-funded STI in universities

• Traditional PI proprietary periods of exclusive use
• Increasing pressure to commercialize
• Assignment of exclusive IP rights to publishers

C. Greater pressures in both areas in developing countries

VI. The Importance of Scientific Values and the Role of Scientists in the IP Debate

A. Scientific values and norms

• Honesty and search for truth
• Openness
• Cooperation and sharing of information
• International perspective
• Reward structure not dependent on economic success

  Strong IP laws and restrictive government information policies tend to hinder, not promote, science and other public interests

B. Role of scientists in IP debate—« political scientists »

• In the EU
• In the US
• In developing countries ?

VII. References

www.nap.edu (U.S. National Academy Press)

See the following reports, all free online:

• Bits of Power: Issues in Global Access to Scientific Data (1997)
• A Question of Balance : Private Rights and the Public Interest in Scientific and Technical Databases (1999)
• The Digital Dilemma: Intellectual Property Rights in the Information Age (2000)

www.codata.org/codata/data_access/index.html

www.dfc.org (against strong protection)

www.siia.net (for strong protection)

Official intergovernmental and US government web sites:

www.wipo.org  (World Intellectual Property Organization)

www.oapi.wipo.net (French-speaking IP org. in Africa)

www.uspto.gov (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office)

lcweb.loc/copyright (U.S. Copyright Office, Library of Congress