Advanced Paper II Paper IV: Intellectual Property Rights

Paper Code: 
25LSC144M
Credits: 
04
Contact Hours: 
60

UNIT I

 Knowledge, Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights: An Introduction

This theme will expose the students to the basic understanding of the political, social and economic concepts that had played a major role in articulation and justification of IPRs.

 Knowledge – characteristics and role in economic growth

 Market for knowledge

o Incentives for creation of new knowledge

o Appropriation of knowledge: knowledge monopoly and its consequences

 Basic forms of IPRs: Patent, copyright, trademark, industrial design

12

UNIT II

Evolution of IP Statutes – Origin and Internationalisation

Under this theme, we examine the major statutes (their forms and various factors that were instrumental in their enactment); international interventions that had shaped the present understanding of IPRs and had led to the contemporary IP statues.

 International organizations and Treaties (pre- TRIPs era): Paris Convention, Berne Convention, Rome convention, IPIC Treaty, Budapest Treaty. CBD, UPOV convention. WIPO, GATT, FAO, UNCTAD

12

UNIT III

Contemporary IP Statues: Unification of IP rights

Under this theme, we will look at how the past two decades can be distinguished by the tremendous changes in the IPR internationally; mainly in the direction of expanding and strengthening the scope of protection, and progressive harmonization in rules & regulations.

 WTO Framework and the TRIPs Agreement Unification of IP rights

Extension of protect able subject matter New forms of IPRs

Scope of Sui-generis systems

 Role of Patent Cooperation Treaty

12

UNIT IV

IPR and New Technologies: Biotechnology and ICT

This theme will discuss the various emerging issues surrounding IPR (mainly patents) in biotechnology and information communication technology. First a scientists’ perspectives will be presented to understand the basic nuances of these technologies. This discussion will be followed by a multidisciplinary discussion of adequateness and suitability of the conventional statutes of patents to cover these modern technologies.

 Science of Biotechnology, Genetic engineering and ICT.

 Patentability criteria in Biotechnology/ICT inventions.

 Distinction between discovery and innovation in Biotechnology.

12

UNIT V

IPR in India and Development

This theme will trace the IP rights in India in the pre-independence era and the motivations that led to the enactment of first patent act by the Government of India. The Patent Act of 1970 and the present act, Patent (Amendment) Act 2005 will be examined. The impact of the patent act of 1970 and implications of the new stringent provisions in the amended act will be discussed using case studies.

 The Patent Act of India 1911 and the Indian Patent Act of 1970.

 IP rights in India and progressive harmonization with international standards; Patent Amendment Act (2005)

 Some case studies giving examples of patents and technology transfer, access and affordability of medicines in India.

 Deliberations of the National Working Group on Patent laws

 IPRs and technology transfer

 Traditional knowledge, IPR and Benefit sharing

Indigenous knowledge and its appropriation

IPR & Traditional Medicine, Private vis-à-vis community based ownership, Biopiracy, Breeders vis-à-vis Farmers rights

12

 

ESSENTIAL READINGS: 

            

  • Abbot, Fredrick, Gurry, Francis and Cottier, Thomas (1999). The International Intellectual Property System: Commentary and Materials. Kluwer Law International, The Hague.
  • Background Discussion Papers and Occasional Papers by Quaker United Nations Office, Geneva. (www.quno.org/economicissues/intellectual-Property/intellectualLinks.htm)
  • Background Study Papers of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (1999). FAO April (http://www.fao.org)
  • Bagchi, A.K. and Bhattacharya, U.K. (1995). Indian patents as competitive instruments:
  • Dream and reality. Economic and Political Weekly.
  • Berman, Bruce and Woods, D. James (2002). From Ideas to Assets- Investing Wisely in Intellectual Property. Willy Intellectual Property Series. New York: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
  • Bhattacharya, S., Garg, K.C., Sharma, S.C. and Dutt, B. (2005). Indian Patenting Activity in International and Domestic Patent System. NISTADS and Office of Principal Scientific Advisor (accessible via http://www.nistads.res.in)
  • Biotechnology and IPR Regime: In the context of India and Developing countries (2005). Asian Biotechnology and Development Review. 7(2). (Complete Issue)
  • Correa, Carlos M. and Abdulqawi A. Yusuf (eds) (1998). Intellectual Property and International Trade: The Trade Agreement. Kluwer Law International, London.
  • Cottier, Thomas and Mavroidis, C. Petros (2003). Intellectual Property: Trade, Competition, and Sustainable Development. World Trade Forum, Volume 3. The University of Michigan Press.
  • Choudhuri, S. (2003). The WTO and India’s Pharmaceutical Industry. Oxford University Press: New Delhi.
  • Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health (CIPIH):
  • Publications & Study Materials (http://www.who.int/intellectualproperty/en/) Dasgupta, B. (1999). Patent lies and latent danger: A study of the political economy of patent in India. Economic and Political Weekly., April 17-25, 979-993.
  • Desai, P.N. (2007). Traditional Knowledge and Intellectual Property Protection: Past and Future. Science and Public Policy, 185-197.
  • Evenson, E. R. and Westphal, J. L.(1995). Technological Change and Technology Strategy In: Handbook of Development Economics (Jere Behrman and T.N. Srinivasan). Elsevier.
  • Ganguli,P. (2003). Indian Path towards TRIPs Compliance. World Patent Information. Ginarte, J. C. and Park, W.G. (1997). Determination of Patent Rights: A Cross National Study. Research Policy, Vo. 26.
  • Hellar, A. Michael and Eisenberg, S. Rebecca (1998). Can Patents Deter Innovation? The Anticommons in Biomedical Research. Science, Vol 280.
  • Kamil Idris Intellectual Property: A Powerful Tool for Economic Growth. World Intellectual Property Organisation.
  • Kumar, Nagesh (2003). Intellectual Property Rights, Technology and Economic Development: Experiences of Asian Countries. Economic and Political Weekly, January 18.
  • Lanjouw, J. O. (1998). The Introduction of Pharmaceutical Product Patents in India: Heartless Exploitation of the Poor and the Suffering?. NBER Working Paper Series No 6366, National Bureau of Economic Research, January.
  • Levin, R., Klevorick, A., Nelson, R. and Winter, S. (1987). Appropriating the Returns from Industrial Research and Development. Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Vol. 3.
  • Mansfield, Edwin (1986). Patents and Innovation: An Empirical Study. Management Science, Vol. 32 No. 2, February.
  • Maskus, Keith (2000). Intellectual Property Rights in the Global Economy. Institute of International Economics. Washington DC.
  • Mashelker, R.A. (2002). Intellectual Property Rights and the Third World. Journal of Intellectual Property Rights. Vol. 7, pp. 308-323.
  • Mazzoleni, R. and Nelson, R.R. (1998). The Benefits and Costs of Strong Patent
  • Protection: A Contribution to the Current Debate. Research Policy 27 (1998) 273-284. Mowery, D.D. and Sampat. B.N. (2001) Patenting and Licensing University Inventions: Lessons from the history of the research corporation. Oxford University Press 2001. NAPAG (1995).
  • Intellectual Property and the Academic Community. National Academics Policy Advisory Group. London, UK (http://www.royalsoc.ac.uk/templates/statements/statementDetails.cfm?stat...)
  • National Working Group on Patent Laws. Papers and Reports. CSSP Library Nuffield(2002). The Ethics of Patenting DNA. Nuffield Council of Bioethics, London, UK.Occasional Paper Series of Trade Related Agenda, Development and Equity (T.R.A.D.E.) The South Centre. (http://www.southcentre.org/publications/publist_category_OccasionalPaper...) Ramanna, A (2005). Bt Cotton and India’s Policy on IPRs, Asian Biotechnology and Development Review. 7(2), pp. 43-51
  • Rao, C.N. (2002). Patents for Biotechnology Inventions in TRIPs. Economic and Political Weekly. 2126-2129.
  • Royal Society (2003). Keeping Science Open: The Effects of Intellectual Policy on the Conduct of Science. Prepared by the Royal Society Working Group on Intellectual Property, London: Royal Society, accessed from www.royalsoc.ac.uk Wiley & Sons Inc.
  • Smith, G and Parr, R.L. (1989). Valuation of Intangible Assets. New York: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
  • Stephen, A. Merrill, Richard, C. Levine and Mark B. Myes (2004). A Patent System for the 21st Century. The National Academic Press, Washington, DC.
  • Stiglitz, J (2006). Making Globalisation Work Pengiun Books Ltd.: England. page 103-132.
  • Swaminathan, M.S (2002). The Protection of Plant Varieties and Farmers’ Rights Act: From Legislation to Implementation. Journal of Intellectual Property Rights. 7, pp. 325-329.
  • Vivien Irish (2000). How to Read a Patent Specification. Engineering Management Journal. April, pp. 71-73.
  • Vasudeva, P.K. (2000). Patenting biotech products: Complex issues. Economic and Political Weekly. 3726- 3729.
  • Wesley, M. Cohen and Stephen, A. Merrill (2004). Patents in the Knowledge Based Economy. The National Academic Press, Washington, DC
  • Watal, Jayshree (2001). Intellectual Property Rights in the WTO and Developing Countries. Oxford University Press: New Delhi.

Full Documents of Treaties

Agreement for the establishment of the WTO

The TRIPs Agreement

PCT Agreement

·       Patent Law Treaty; Substantive Patent Law Treaty Convention on Biological Diversity

·       The International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Seed

·       Treaty)

·       Indian Patent Act, Design Act, Trademark Act and Geographical Indications (Department of Industrial Policy and promotion, Government of India)

·       Plant Patents and Farmer’s Right Act

·       Indian Biodiversity Act

 

Academic Year: 
2025-2026
  • Printer-friendly version
  • PDF version