[A2k] South FACE: Making Patent Policy Work for Development: Lessons from the SWISS

[nath@southcentre.org]

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Dear All,=0D
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The South Centre organized its fourth Seminar in the South Innovation=0D
Perspectives Series at the Palais des Nations, Geneva on 24 October 2007.=
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Dr. Nikolaus Thumm, Senior Economic Counsellor, Swiss Federal Institute of=
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Intellectual Property, Berne was the keynote speaker of the seminar titled=
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"Making Patent Policy Work for Development: Lessons from the SWISS=0D
Experience."=0D
=0D
To get a quick insight of the messages and policy lessons emerging from=0D
this Seminar, read the South FACE (a photo-journal) produced for this=0D
EVENT at:=0D
http://www.southcentre.org/southface/South_Face-innovationperspectives-24oc=
t.pdf=0D
=0D
The commentators included Prof. Dominique Foray, Chair of Economics of=0D
Innovation, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Lausanne and Mr. Huang=
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Rengang, Minister Counsellor, Chinese permanent mission to the WTO.=0D
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According to Dr. Xuan Li, Lead Economist, South Centre who chaired the=0D
Seminar, at least three important lessons can be drawn from Swiss=0D
experiences for developing countries:=0D
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=E2=80=A2 First, a proper conceptual framework to root the development conc=
ept=0D
into the IP policy making process must be established.=0D
The graph presented by Switzerland (available in the South FACE) is an=0D
excellent guiding concept for policy making.=0D
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=E2=80=A2 Second, an economic approach should be introduced into national I=
P=0D
policy-making processes. The Swiss survey on biotechnology is an excellent=
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example of how such an interdisciplinary approach can be envisaged.=0D
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=E2=80=A2 Third, antitrust (competition) concerns should be embedded into t=
he IP=0D
regime. Swiss experience of introducing research exemption into patent law=
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is a good example. The Swiss experience, together with US approach=0D
discussed during the South Centre IP enforcement symposium (9 Oct 2007,=0D
http://www.southcentre.org/southface/South_Face_IAKP_9Oct.pdf),=0D
demonstrates how developed countries have secured a proper balance between=
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IP and anti-trust.=0D
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Go to:=0D
http://www.southcentre.org/southface/South_Face-innovationperspectives-24oc=
t.pdf=0D
for further details. Digital Videos from the Event will shortly become=0D
available via the South Centre Digital TV.=0D
=0D
Best regards,=0D
=0D
Vikas Nath=0D
Head - Media and Communication=0D
South Centre=0D
=0D
17-19 chemin du Champ d'Anier=0D
1209 Petit Saconnex, Geneva=0D
Switzerland=0D
=0D
Email: nath@southcentre.org=0D
Phone: +41 22 791 8050=0D
Website: http://www.SouthCentre.org=0D
Blog: http://southcentrenet.blogspot.com=0D
DigitalTV: http://southcentre.blip.tv=0D