The Strategic Use of Ethical Arguments in International Patent Lawmaking

Asian Journal of WTO & International Health Law and Policy, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 503-534, September 2008

32 Pages Posted: 11 Feb 2009

See all articles by Jean-Frederic Morin

Jean-Frederic Morin

Université Laval - Departement de Science Politique

Date Written: December 4, 2008

Abstract

Due to scientific uncertainties and political problems, policymakers rely on socially constructed norms when drafting what they hope to be an efficient patent system. At the international level, ethical discourse is often used by stakeholders to promote their favoured norms and thus causing a "rhetorical war" in the international patent regime. This article introduces the evolution of key discourses in the history of the international patent regime, especially in regard to the biodiversity and the access to medicines debates. It leads to concluding remarks on the effectiveness of some discourses over others in framing international patent debates.

Keywords: TRIPS, rhetorical discourse, Convention on Biological Diversity, access to medicines

Suggested Citation

Morin, Jean-Frederic, The Strategic Use of Ethical Arguments in International Patent Lawmaking (December 4, 2008). Asian Journal of WTO & International Health Law and Policy, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 503-534, September 2008 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1311208

Jean-Frederic Morin (Contact Author)

Université Laval - Departement de Science Politique ( email )

Ste-Foy, Quebec G1K 7P4
Canada

HOME PAGE: http://https://ulaval.academia.edu/JeanFredericMorin

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