Biodiversity and the Patent System: An Introduction to Research Methods

Abstract

This paper is concerned with contributing to the development of a clearer view of patent activity in relation to biological diversity and traditional knowledge. The paper focuses on the need for evidence based approaches to the analysis and assessment of patent activity and addresses three main questions: What is actually happening in relation to the patenting of biological and genetic material and traditional knowledge? Who is doing what, where, and how? How are we to assess the implications of these activities for science, society and policy?

The paper focuses on addressing the methodological challenges involved in trying to answer these questions and provides an introduction to research methods to address these questions. The paper does not assume any prior knowledge of the patent system. Researchers are strongly encouraged to use, refine and improve on the methods presented in this paper and to share their findings with the wider community.

Keywords: Convention on Biological diversity, patents, biopiracy, intellectual property, research methods

JEL Classification: K11, K33, L43, L66,O13, O31, O33, O34, Q00