International Public Goods, Intellectual Property and the CGIAR Victoria Henson-Apollonio Senior Scientist, Manager of CAS-IP Presentation AGM 08 25 Nov. 2008
A few ? ’s to start
• What is the relationship between public goods and intellectual property/ intellectual assets management? • Is the core business of the CGIAR System the production, distribution and uptake of international public goods?
• Can we reconcile the production of international public goods where the delivery of our developmental outcomes is in the context of market-driven agricultural systems? • What about public-private partnerships?
• Other speakers have emphasized the role of the CGIAR Centers and the System in the production of public goods/international public goods.
• A few examples of ‘pure’ (? ) IPGs, produced/supported by the Centers: – The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture – (International) Training programs provided by the Centers
• Lots of examples of ‘impure’ goods
What is the relationship between IPGs and IPRs? • For the CGIAR Centers/System the question is rarely IPRs vs. no IPRs • Is an article in “Nature” an IPG? Do Copyrights over a printed publication mean that this is not a PG? • I leave this to the Economists • Does it matter?
What about the distribution and use aspects of the CG’s IPGs
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture • CG genebank accessions are under MLS • But --What if the ITPGRFA is not implemented in countries? --Even member countries? • What if no one uses the ITPGRFA-MLS? • It’s still an IPG ----but? ? ?
Can we reconcile the production of international public goods where the delivery of our developmental outcomes is in the context of market-driven agricultural systems?
IA (IP) Management/Tech Transfer Management • IPRs are a problem if they interfere with our ability to carry out our research and if they inhibit our ability to distribute • If taking out/utilizing IPRs improves the possibility that products will be used and distributed –is this a problem? • Application/use of IPRs is a strategy –not an end goal • IA/TT management within the CG should emphasize the distribution and use of public goods • Provides the necessary link between cause and effect in impact assessment
Public-Private Partnerships • What should our IP strategy be? • We need to develop a more sophisticated approach to market segmentation, exclusivity, application of humanitarian use provisions, etc.
Can we do more?
• As much of our literature as possible should be included in the non-patent literature database of the European Patent Office (EPO) – ICRISAT – CIAT • Guaranteed way to get prior art in front of the Patent Examiners • Means fewer IPRs, owned by others, on our innovations
• Better management of our data and “intermediate” products • Better (more complete) Identification and written descriptions of our intellectual assets –Less emphasis on what is “finished/mature”, more emphasis on what we have and who might find it useful? • Donor interest: DFID & Research Into Use programme
• Distribution of results of research, written is as a part of our proposals, --from the Concept note stage • Donor interest: BMGF & Global Access Strategy • Research on, and Consideration of, capacity needs in order for emerging/developing economies to access and absorb our results
One final thought We don’t do it well. It rarely costs us anything…. It’s a PG we all can produce.
• Thank you
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