C[omp]ute

From: "andrew cooke" <andrew@...>

Date: Fri, 6 Jul 2007 18:17:15 -0400 (CLT)

http://www.atpsnet.org/Technopolicy%20Brief%2013.pdf

Information on the use of plants in medicine and agriculture is enshrined in
traditional knowledge (TK).  During seminars on biotechnology in
agriculture and health in Entebbe, Uganda; Dakar, Senegal and Maputo,
Mozambique participants observed that the current regime of intellectual
property rights (IPRs), such as patents, trade secrets, plant breeders’
rights, and industrial designs cannot accommodate TK, the basis of
innovation in many African countries. They expressed much interest in the
concept of sui generis and agreed that countries in Africa need to move
with haste and take action to protect the rich plant genetic resources in
Africa. They also xpressed a need for more information on sui generis.
Many policy makers supported the idea of putting such a system in place.
However, a major problem lies in scarcity of information on sui generis.
This policy paper attempts to explain the concept of sui generis,
justifies the need for such a system and offers policy options that
countries may wish to consider as they navigate the cumbersome road
towards a sui generis system.

From http://www.atpsnet.org/ via http://www.miauk.com/mia-blog/

Andrew