‘Benevolent’ patent extensions could raise billions for R&D in poorer countries
Research into vaccines, crop seeds and other innovations for low- or middle-income nations could be rewarded by offering longer patent coverage for profitable, non-essential inventions.
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-02998-4 #IPLaw #benevolent #patent #extensions #investment #BenevolentDiscovery
The basic idea of a benevolent patent extension is straightforward. An inventor who applies to patent a ‘benevolent discovery’ — one that targets LMICs’ needs — is given the opportunity to offset the R&D costs by extending another patent, for a ‘non-essential’ product. The condition is that the benevolent discovery be offered to the public for unrestricted, non-exclusive, global use, royalty-free for the duration of its patent.
