Side Event

Biodiversity and the Patent System: Indicators and Incentive Measures

Organizer
ESRC Centre for Economic and Social Aspects of Genomics

Date and Time
24 January 2008 13:15 - 14:45

Meeting
Sixth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on Access and Benefit-sharing (WG ABS 6)

The patent system features prominently in debates on an international regime for ABS. However, trends in the patenting of biodiversity and traditional knowledge remain obscure. This side event presents the results of a review of international patent indicators for biodiversity and traditional knowledge. The analysis suggests that proposals for disclosure of origin and certificates of origin could be operationalised through the use of existing patent indicators. In view of the wide diversity of actors, technologies and markets involved in patent activity, indicators could be used to develop targeted Adjustable Incentive Measures (AIMs) to encourage desired forms of behaviour under an international regime. The side-event thus provides a forum for discussion of the role of indicators in the development and implementation of an international regime for ABS.