The Future of Patentability in International Law according to the CAFTA by Jean-Frédéric Morin | 1 Mar 2004
TRIPS-plus: How FTAs and other bilateral treaties impose intellectual property rights on life in developing countries by GRAIN | 10 Feb 2004
Bt cotton at Mali's doorstep: Time to act! by GRAIN | 1 Feb 2004 With the illicit introduction of Bt Cotton into Mali, GRAIN exposes the effect this will have on West Africa. With the illicit introduction of Bt Cotton into Mali, GRAIN exposes the effect this will have on West Africa.
January 2004 by | 30 Jan 2004 Seedling - January 2004 The entire issue of Seedling in January 2004 in PDF format. The entire issue of Seedling in January 2004 in PDF format.
Redefining 'property': Private Property, the Commons, and the Public Domain by Brewster Kneen | 28 Jan 2004 Seedling - January 2004 Brewster Kneen analyses the "culture of turning everything and anything into commodities that can be bought and sold". The commons and the public domain have been diminished. Kneen looks at what "the commons", "public domain" and "private property" really mean and even compares our current notions of property with those of the Romans. Interestingly, the Romans only had different types of public property as opposed to the capitalist notion of private property. "There is nothing absolute about these five [Roman] categories, but the characterisation does make the point that there is a far greater range of property-holding arrangements possible than either those of us who oppose privatisation or those who support it have been considering". "Now is the time for legal and institutional creativity, not defensiveness or retrenchment. Now is the time to give new meaning to the ‘commons’ and ‘public domain’ in practice." Brewster Kneen analyses the "culture of turning everything and anything into commodities that can be bought and sold". The commons and the public domain have been diminished. Kneen looks at what "the commons", "public domain" and "private property" really mean and even compares our current notions of property with those of the Romans. Interestingly, the Romans only had different types of public property as opposed to the capitalist notion of private property. "There is nothing absolute about these five [Roman] categories, but the characterisation does make the point that there is a far greater range of property-holding arrangements possible than either those of us who oppose privatisation or those who support it have been considering". "Now is the time for legal and institutional creativity, not defensiveness or retrenchment. Now is the time to give new meaning to the ‘commons’ and ‘public domain’ in practice."
Good ideas turned bad? A glossary of rights-related terminology by GRAIN | 25 Jan 2004 Seedling - January 2004 GRAIN takes a critical look at some such key concepts related to knowledge, biodiversity and intellectual property rights. Many of these words and phrases look innocent enough at a first glance, but on deeper examination, we can see how they have been twisted, manipulated, usurped, devalued and/or denatured. Some are used to constrain us and lock us into a particular way of thinking, and others are used against us. This is not an exercise aimed at drawing final conclusions, but an invitation to deconstruct some definitions and start the search for new terminology and ways of thinking that may help us untangle us from some of the conceptual traps we are stuck in. GRAIN takes a critical look at some such key concepts related to knowledge, biodiversity and intellectual property rights. Many of these words and phrases look innocent enough at a first glance, but on deeper examination, we can see how they have been twisted, manipulated, usurped, devalued and/or denatured. Some are used to constrain us and lock us into a particular way of thinking, and others are used against us. This is not an exercise aimed at drawing final conclusions, but an invitation to deconstruct some definitions and start the search for new terminology and ways of thinking that may help us untangle us from some of the conceptual traps we are stuck in.
The great protection racket: imposing IPRs on traditional knowledge by GRAIN | 20 Jan 2004 Seedling - January 2004 Most Seedling readers will find the idea of using IPRs to protect traditional knowledge bizarre, if not offensive. IPRs are now routinely used by commercial interests to appropriate and exploit traditional knowledge. Experience tells us that IPRs rank among the major threats to its protection, not one of its defences. But a WIPO committee in Geneva is proposing just that: to create an entirely new form of IPR especially for traditional knowledge. How should indigenous groups, farmers and other holders of traditional knowledge respond? Most Seedling readers will find the idea of using IPRs to protect traditional knowledge bizarre, if not offensive. IPRs are now routinely used by commercial interests to appropriate and exploit traditional knowledge. Experience tells us that IPRs rank among the major threats to its protection, not one of its defences. But a WIPO committee in Geneva is proposing just that: to create an entirely new form of IPR especially for traditional knowledge. How should indigenous groups, farmers and other holders of traditional knowledge respond?