The COVID-19 Crisis: Intellectual Property and Sustainable Development During the Pandemic

Abstract

This chapter explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This chapter then considers the intellectual property law dimensions of the pandemic in the context of three specific issues: online teaching and access to digital collections; the right to repair medical devices; and access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. It also makes suggestions for a sustainable recovery and calls for policy reforms aimed at building more resilient health systems, food systems, societies and economies. The conclusion maintains that the framework for recovery should be based on the principles of equity, inclusion, solidarity and multilateralism.

Keywords: COVID-19; Intellectual property; Sustainable development; Patents; Copyright; WHO; WTO; TRIPS waiver; Digital divide; Internet archive; Fair use; Right to repair; Pandemic treaty