Legal aspects intellectual property

TRIPS Agreement (Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property). Available at URL http //www.wto.int/english/docs e/legal e/27-trips 01 e.htm. 

Canadian Legal Network. 2001. Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and AIDS Law Project South Africa. TRIPS and Rights International Human Rights Law, Access to Medicines and the Interpretation of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property. Available at http //www.aidslaw.ca/Maincontent/issues/cts/briefs/TRIPS-human-rights-briefPDF.pdf [Accessed June 20, 2005]. 

This chapter will provide the reader with an overview of patenting in the pharmaceutical biotechnology industry and summarize some of the key legal and ethical issues related to the patenting of biomedical products and processes. It will examine the legal aspects of patenting before considering the ethical and policy issues. This essay will focus primarily on the U S patent laws, which are very similar to the European patent laws. The essay will note some differences between the US and European laws, and it will mention some relevant international intellectual property treaties. 

Do not focus on the legal For most social entrepreneurs, the best advice is not to sweat the legal aspects of the business. What you need to know is common sense and something you can learn from one good book. In particular, do not pay attention to intellectual property (IP). IP is an important aspect of some for-profit businesses, but social enterprises very rarely add social value by protecting intellectual property. They also very rarely can afford the large costs associated with protection. 

The first aspect of intellectual property law we shall consider is the legal protection of confidential information. This can protect programs, data and ideas. It is especially important that information should be kept confidential if a patent application is to be made. ... 

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