granting of intellectual property rights on biological materials could be very contentious issue from cultural, legal, ethical and religious points of view. this could be even more complicated, once it acquires an international dimension. the agreement on trade related intellectual property rights (trips) is the latest international arrangement under which, a complex structure for international...

This article addresses the development of the World Health Organisation's (WHO) arrangements for accessing viruses and the development of vaccines to respond to potential pandemics (and other lesser outbreaks). It examines the ongoing "conflict" between the United Nations' Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the World Trade Organisation's Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellect...

Most universities today have developed intellectual property policies which clearly establish ownership rights in any commercially valuable process developed by professors and graduate students in a university laboratory. Increasingly, undergraduates are also being encouraged to take an active part in research since this often encourages them to go on to graduate school. It is also, in itself, ...