Research tool patents and free-libre biotechnology: A suggested unified framework

Julien Pénin () and Wack, Jean-Pierre

Research Policy, 2008, vol. 37, issue 10, pages 1909-1921

Abstract: This paper proposes a unified conceptual framework to analyze the multiple role and consequences of patents in the case of biotechnology research tools. We argue that the knowledge/information and independent/complementary nature of research tools define heterogeneous frameworks in which the patent system plays different roles. In particular, using the analogy with the free-libre open source movement in software, we show that patents can promote open innovation by ensuring the freedom of some pieces of knowledge. A strong conclusion of the paper is therefore that, against common belief, an adequate use of the patent system may contribute to preserving freedom of access to upstream research tools within a framework that we call free-libre biotechnology.

Keywords: Intellectual; property; rights; Sequential; innovation; Open; source; Knowledge; Collective; invention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2008
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