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DISCUSSION

Why should IP be part of the global development agenda? In this day and age, economic
growth and development are largely driven by science, technology, and most particularly by
innovation. This is to provide significant solutions to social, environmental, and economic
challenges that were brought by the unpredictable environment. An increase in productive
capacity, employment, poverty eradication, and sustainable and equitable economic growth
requires high support for innovation. However, strengthening innovation capacity is one of the
major challenges that many developing countries face (UN, 2012). One of the many solutions
that were found to be significant in addressing such a challenge is the introduction of the
Intellectual Property (IP) System.
How does society boost creativity? The management of IP and IPR is a multidimensional task
that requires actions and strategies to be aligned with national laws, international treaties, and
practices (Burrone, 2018). It is a strong tool for the protection and promotion of domestic
creations, innovations, and inventions, for attracting foreign direct investments and, hence,
contributing to the transfer of technology, and to support the development of national scientific
and technological infrastructure (UN, 2012). What benefit does it bring? In this way, it aids the
economic development of a country by promoting healthy competition, encouraging industrial
development, and accelerate national economic growth (Bhattacharya & Saha, 2011).
Finding better, cheaper, smarter ways of producing goods and bringing them to the market is
one of many ways for the society and economy to be sustainable. Withstanding global market
fluctuations in sectors such as agriculture or food, public health, and others will not be possible
without harnessing the power of knowledge, innovation, and creativity. But even with science
and technology, the functions of the health, education, and social system will not be fully
achieved if the public and private sectors remain in different silos. How do we address such
challenges? Breaking down barriers between disciplines and strengthening the connection
between science and society will provide a gateway to a united system (UN, 2012).
Food Security
How important is agriculture? Can traditional agriculture accommodate the increasing
population? Food security has always been a global challenge, particularly in developing
countries. As the population drastically increases every year, more food is needed to be
produced sustainably. This has pushed agricultural sectors to innovate and produce more with
lower inputs such as land, water, fertilizers, and pesticides. However, appropriate incentives and
protection are required to develop and introduce suitable agricultural technology, including
better-adapted varieties of plants. Why does the IP system matter in this issue? It was observed
that a balanced and transparent legal and administrative framework of intellectual property
protection may provide a key incentive for innovation, investment, and knowledge transfer in
many different circumstances for both the public and the private sectors37. IPRs encourage the
participation of the universities’ R&D and private sectors in the development of new
technologies, goods, and products for sustainable agriculture and striving for the most efficient,
profitable, and manageable agricultural industry (Cullet, 2003; UN, 2012).
Public Health
Are you safe? Are you healthy? How do you measure personal and public safety and health?
Safety with regards to public health cannot be achieved by simply providing a technological fix.
The evolving state of both communicable and non-communicable diseases creates a constant
and high demand for new and adapted technologies. This leads to crucial debates about how to
secure resources for medical innovation, the directions that health research takes, and the
equitable access to the fruits of innovation14. The intellectual property system is essential in
relation to health-related development goals as an incentive for innovation in the pharmaceutical
and medical field and as a policy tool to facilitate technology diffusion and access to essential
drugs. Likewise, properly structured IP systems with an appropriate balance between innovation
and access can assist the ability of governments to deliver one of their primary development
objectives – that is safeguarding the health of the population (UN, 2012).
The specific example of safeguarding public health with the use of the IP system is through
Patent Pooling. In this mechanism, patent owner/s agrees to license their patent/s to one
another or third parties and represent a public-private partnership (WIPO, Patent Pools, and
Antitrust - A Comparative Analysis, 2014). When was patent pooling recognized for the benefit
of public health? In the early 2000s, patent pooling was recognized in the biomedical field due to
the rise of patented technologies in the field of biotechnology. This mechanism allows
innovators to undertake further research and development by enabling them access to
intellectual property on key research tools or platform technology (Burrone, 2018). Although this
is relatively a new concept with regards to public health, this addresses the access challenge to
medication in developing and least-developed countries (Burrone, et al., 2019).
The UNITAID, a publicly funded global health initiative that is housed by the World Health
Organization (WHO), established the first patent pool in 2010. Its initial public health mandate
was on HIV through the establishment of the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP). How MPP works?
The MPP negotiates licenses with patent holders and in turn licensing those patents to multiple
manufactures. This procedure enables manufacturers to develop licensed medicine and make it
available in a defined set of developing countries in exchange for royalties. Did it work? Since its
establishment in 2010, the MPP has negotiated with seven patent holders on thirteen HIV
medicines and one technology that can be used for the development of nano-formulations of
HIV medicines. These medicines have been sub-licensed to thirteen generic manufacturers and
supplied 17 million patient/years of WHO-recommended HIV medicines to 127 developing
countries (Burrone, 2018). Would this apply to the current global issue? In relation to the current
Covid-19 pandemic, that is detrimentally affecting the world, such a mechanism could
accelerate the development, production, and distribution of vaccines, diagnostics, therapeutics,
and equipment. It is safe to assume that the provision of adequate incentives and recognition of
creations for both the public and private sectors promotes science- and knowledge-based
development thereby placing it in the service of humanity (UN, 2012).

Intellectual property (IP) is defined as the intangible creations of the human intellect or mind, such as
inventions; literary and artistic works; and symbols, names, and images used in commerce that is
expressed or translated into tangible forms and is assigned with specific rights to protect from theft,
plagiarism, and unauthorized use. It was in the Paris Convention (1883) and the Berne Convention
(1886) that the importance of IP was recognized. However, it was not until the late 20th century that IP
became commonplace in the world’s legal system (Hanu, 2012; Lambert, 2008; WIPO, What is
Intellectual Property?, n.d.). What do you think are the reasons that its practice is now encouraged?
Refer to the reasons enumerated below. Do the reasons include what you have in mind?
Do you think that developed countries/ nations still need this IP system?

Yes, after all IP system protects and ensures that innovators have the necessary protections to invest in
research and development of new ideas and technologies. Whether you belong to developed nations or
developing nations, you need this system. It is the only way to protect an innovation which is very
crucial for the economic growth of one nation. I think it also plays an important role in international
trade agreements and negotiations where in it will ensure that your innovations are not exploited
without proper authorization in global markets.

Why developing nations are more in need of the intellectual property than developed nations?

Limited resources, infrastructure gaps, and societal needs are some of the problems that the developing
nations often face. That is why they are more in need of the IP system because it is only way to address
these problems which requires innovative solutions. And by implementing this system, it can stimulate
domestic innovation by providing incentives to the inventors, researchers, and to all the people who
contributed in creating and crafting this particular innovation. This will also help retain talent and
prevent brain drain.
Group 8: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SYSTEM TO SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND
SOCIETY

FLOW OF REPORTING

GREETINGS
INTRODUCTION
LEARNING OUTCOME: Associate intellectual property system to global security
- Intellectual property system plays an important role in fostering innovation and
promotes economic stability and development which are essential components of
global security. By giving incentives to innovators to invest more in research and
development, their inventions could contribute to enhance global security.
WHY SHOULD IP BE PART OF THE GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AGENDA?
- DEFINE FIRST INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
o Intellectual property is defined as the intangible creations of the human
intellect or mind that is expressed or translated into tangible forms and is
assigned with specific rights to protect from theft, plagiarism, and
unauthorized use.
GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
- seek to end poverty and hunger, realize the human rights of all, achieve gender
equality and the empowerment of all women and girls, and ensure the lasting
protection of the planet and its natural resources.
FOOD SECURITY
- Food security has always been a global challenge especially in developing
countries because as the population increases, more food is needed to produced
sustainably. With that, it pushed agricultural sectors to innovate and produce more
with lower inputs such as land, water, fertilizers, and pesticides. However, it
requires appropriate incentives and protection to develop and introduce suitable
agricultural technology, including better-adapted varieties of plants.
WHYS DOES THE IP SYSTEM MATTER IN THIS ISSUE?
- They were able to observed that a balanced and transparent legal and
administrative framework of intellectual property protection may provide a key
incentive for innovation, investment, and knowledge transfer in many different
circumstances for both the public and private sectors.

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