The Fourth Industrial Revolution, Development and Intellectual Property - the World Economic and Social Survey 2018 and Beyond

Cheng, Hoi Wai Jackie; Parra, Mariangela

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3687110

Cited by 1 publication

(10 citation statements)

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“…Allison Bostrom and Shivani Nayyar (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2019). To a degree, their innovation systems still rely on public funding, especially in risky sectors (Cheng and Parra-Lancourt, 2020). These results additionally point to the economic and innovation risks associated with "brain drain," or the out-migration of a country's intellectual base.…”

Section: A Handful Of Countries Direct Technology and Own Intellectua...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is easier to demonstrate the novelty of a specific molecule, have clear assessment standards, and detect whether there is infringement (Levin et al, 1987). Their novelty, non-obviousness, and usefulness can be more clearly assessed as well (Cheng and Parra-Lancourt, 2020). Policymakers and regulators may want to reconsider uniform treatment of innovations from all industries (Roin, 2005).…”

Section: Patents and Innovationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is more convergence of technologies from areas that were distinct before. This increased interdependence exacerbates any negative impacts on follow-on innovation (Cheng and Parra-Lancourt, 2020). New products and technologies tend to be built upon patented knowledge from disparate fields, making it even more important for firms to already hold patents rights that they can use to barter with firms from other sectors (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2001).…”

Section: Patents and The 4irmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Many of today’s developed countries have a reputation for private research and development, but their technological advancement relied heavily on public funding to create technologies that were later privatized (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), 2019). To a degree, their innovation systems still rely on public funding, especially in risky sectors (Cheng and Parra-Lancourt, 2020). These results additionally point to the economic and innovation risks associated with “brain drain,” or the out-migration of a country’s intellectual base.…”

Section: Science and Technology And Inequalitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the current system of technological development and distribution is highly unequal. A given country’s access to technology is determined by a combination of many factors, including availability of patented knowledge, technical know-how, trade secrets, relevant infrastructure (physical, institutional, regulatory, and digital), educational outcomes, and government and private expenditure on technology (Cheng and Parra-Lancourt, 2020). Developed countries have an advantage in each of these areas.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fit for purpose? The patents regime, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and sustainable development

Bostrom

Nayyar

2023

Data & Policy

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This article uses data from several publicly available databases to show that the distribution of intellectual property for frontier technologies, including those useful for sustainable development, is very highly skewed in favor of a handful of developed countries. The intellectual property rights (IPR) regime as it exists does not optimize the global flow of technology and know-how for the attainment of the sustainable development goals and is in need of updating. Some features of the Fourth Industrial Revolution imply that the current system of patents is even more in need of reform than before. COVID-19 vaccines and therapies and the vast inequality in access to these has highlighted the costs of inaction. We recommend several policy changes for the international IPR regime. Broadly, these fall into three categories: allowing greater flexibility for developing countries, reassessing the appropriateness of patents for technologies that may be considered public goods, and closing loopholes that allow for unreasonable intellectual property protections.

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Section: A Handful Of Countries Direct Technology and Own Intellectua...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Patents and Innovationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Patents and The 4irmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Science and Technology And Inequalitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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