Japonica Rice: Intellectual Property, Scientific Publishing and Data-Sharing

Abstract:     
This article examines a series of controversies within the life sciences over data sharing. Part 1 focuses upon the agricultural biotechnology firm Syngenta publishing data on the rice genome in the journal Science, and considers proposals to reform scientific publishing and funding to encourage data sharing. Part 2 examines the relationship between intellectual property rights and scientific publishing, in particular copyright protection of databases, and evaluates the declaration of the Human Genome Organisation that genomic databases should be global public goods. Part 3 looks at varying opinions on the information function of patent law, and then considers the proposals of Patrinos and Drell to provide incentives for private corporations to release data into the public domain.

Keywords: Intellectual property, genomics, scientific publishing, data-sharing, rice and staple crops, food security, copyright law, scientific databases, patent law, research exemption

Accepted Paper Series