Kathmandu School of Law Review

P-ISSN : 2091-2110, E-ISSN : 2773-8159, DOI : 10.46985, Publisher : Kathmandu School of Law, Nepal
Annual flagship journal of Kathmandu School of Law, Nepal

Volume 2, Issue 1, April 2013
Articles

Intellectual Property and Human Rights: A Conceptual Analysis in the Light of Developing Countries

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  • Nour Mohammad
Nour Mohammad
Assistant Professor of Law, Premier University Chittagong
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Published 2013-04-30

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How to Cite

Mohammad, N. . (2013). Intellectual Property and Human Rights: A Conceptual Analysis in the Light of Developing Countries. Kathmandu School of Law Review, 2(1), 144–158. Retrieved from https://kslreview.org/index.php/kslr/article/view/1029

Abstract

This paper examines some competing legal frameworks that governments, NGOs, and intergovernmental organizations are using to conceptualize the intersection of human rights and intellectual property. Among the two approaches examined, the first approach views the two areas of law as in fundamental conflict, with strong intellectual property protection standards in particular those of the TRIPS Agreement undermining a broad spectrum of human rights. The second approach sees both areas of law as concerned with the same basic question .This paper aims to critically analyze different provisions of the intellectual property and to search for the implications of them for the developing countries in line with the Human right. Finally an attempt is made to explore ways and means in mitigating or addressing the problems arising out of the TRIPS which are peculiar to the developing countries.

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References

  1. Cullet Philippe, ‘Human Rights and Intellectual Property protection in the TRIPS Era’ (2007) 29 Human Rights Quarterly 403.
  2. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (adopted 10 December 1948) UNGA Res 217A (III).
  3. Agreement on Trade-Related Aspect of Intellectual Property Rights (15 April 1994) 1869 UNTS. 299, 33 ILM 1197 (TRIPS); Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization (1994) 1867 UNTS 154, 33 ILM 1144 (Marrakesh Agreement).
  4. Marrakesh Agreement (n 4), preamble.
  5. See (For a review of the changes TRIPS brought) J H Reichman, The TRIPS Agreement comes of age: Conflict or cooperation with developing countries (2000).
  6. See David Weissbrodt & Kell Schoff, ‘A Human Rights Approach to Intellectual Property Protection: The Genesis and Application of Sub-commission Resolution 2000/7’ (2003) 5 Minn Inte Prop Rev 1.
  7. For the purposes of this Article, the terms ‘inventive step’ and capable of industrial application may be deemed by a member to be synonymous with terms ‘non-obvious’ and ‘useful’ respectively.
  8. TRIPS (n 4) art 27(2).
  9. Ibid s 1.
  10. Carlos M. Correa & Abdulqawi A. Yusuf (eds), Intellectual Property and International Trade: The Trips Agreement ( Kluwer Law Internatinal 1998) 215.
  11. See, for example, CESCR, Consideration of reports submitted by states parties under articles 16 and 17 of the covenant: Algeria E/C.12/1/ADD.71 (30 November 2001) para 43.
  12. Intellectual Property Rights and Human Rights, Sub-Commission on Human Rights Resolution 2000/7 (17 August 2000) E/CN.4/SUB.2/RES/2000/7 para 3.
  13. The Impact of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights on Human Rights: Report of the High Commissioner (27 June 2001) E/CN.4/Sub.2/2001/13, para 60.
  14. See, for example, Ernst-Ulrich Petersman, ‘The WTO Constitution and Human Rights’ (2000) 3 Journal of International Economic Law 10.
  15. Ibid 10.
  16. Charles S. Levy, ‘Law and Policy in International Business’ Review of key substantive Agreement’ (2000) 31 Law & Pol'y Int'l Bus 789.
  17. Ibid 801.
  18. Rapheal Kaplinsky, ‘Industry and intellectual property rights in the Uruguay round and beyond’ (1989) 25 (3) The Journal of Development Studies.
  19. Lisa B.Martin & Susan L. Amster, International Intellectual Property Protection in the New GATT Accord’ (1993) 2 J. Proprietary Rts. 9, 12.
  20. TRIPS (n 4).
  21. L.R. Helfer, ‘Toward a Human Rights Framework for Intellectual Property’ (2007) 40 U.C. Davis Law Review 977; P.K.Yu, ‘Reconceptualizing Intellectual Property Interests in a Human Rights Framework’ (2007) 40 UC Davis Law Review 1039.
  22. P.K. Yu (n 22) 1123.
  23. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (adopted 16 December 1966) 993 UNTS 3 art 15(1)(c).
  24. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, General Comment No. 17: The Right of Everyone to Benefit from the Protection of the Moral and Material Interests Resulting from Any Scientific, Literary or Artistic Production of Which He Is the Author (Art. 15(1) (c)), para. 35 (12 January 2006 ) UN Doc. E/C.12/GC/17.
  25. Ibid para 1.
  26. Ibid para 2.
  27. M. Sepúlveda, The Nature of the Obligations Under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (Antwerp, Intersentia 2003) 8.
  28. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (n 10).
  29. P. Alston, ‘Conjuring Up New Human Rights: A Proposal for Quality Control’ (1984) 78 American Journal of International Law 607.
  30. See, for example Additional Protocol to the American Convention on Human Rights in the Area of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (opened for signature 17 November 1988) OASTS 9(1989), 28 ILM 161(Protocol of San Salvador) art 14(1)(c); ); International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (entered into force 3 January 1976) 999 UNTS 3 (ICESCR) art 15(1)(c); Organization of American States, American Declaration of the Rights and Duties of Man (2 May 1948) OEA/Ser. L./V./II.23 art 13; UDHR (n 3) art 27(2).
  31. Philippe (n 2) 1.
  32. Duncan Matthews, Globalizing intellectual property rights: The TRIPS agreement (2000).
  33. See Aundrey R.Chapman, The Human rights implication of intellectual property protection (2002); See also United Nations Development program (UNDP), Human Development Report (2000).
  34. Alicia Ely Yamin, ‘Not Just a tragedy: Access to medications as a right under international law’ 21(2) Boston University international law journal 325, 325-371; S. Joseph, ‘Pharmaceutical Corporations and Access to Drugs: The Fourth Wave of Corporate Human Rights Scrutiny’ (2003) ,25(2) Human Rights Quarterly 425, 425-452.
  35. Philippe (n 2).
  36. Ibid 414.
  37. Ibid 25.
  38. David Weissbrodt & Kell Schoff (n 7).
  39. Intellectual Property Right and Human Rights ,CHR Res 2000/7.
  40. Report on the Twenty Second, Twenty-Third and Twenty-Fourth Session, UN ESCOR Commission on Economics, Social and Cultural Rights (2000)
  41. Philippe (n 2).
  42. Report on the Twenty-Fifth, Twenty-Sixth and Twenty-Seventh Sessions: Statement by the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural rights on human rights and Intellectual Property UN ESCOR 2001 (2001 Statement )
  43. Ibid 25
  44. ICESCR (n 31).
  45. The Impact of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspect Of Intellectual Property Rights On Human Rights, UN ESCOR (2001).
  46. WHO, Globalization, TRIPS and access to pharmaceuticals: WHO Policy Perspectives on Medicines, No. 3 (March 2001) 4.
  47. Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health. Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights (WHO, 2006).
  48. Paul Hunt, Mission to WTO, Report of the Special Reporter on The right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health E/CN.4/2004/49/Add.1 para.63, 81- 82.
  49. See, for example, Constantine Michalopoulos, ‘Special and Differential Treatment of Developing Countries in TRIPS’ TRIPS Issue Papers 2, 4 <http://www.quno.org/geneva/pdf/economic/Issues/Special-Differential-Treatment-in-TRIPSEnglish.pdf> accessed 1 March 2013.
  50. Ibid.