Protection of Genomic Databases.

Abstract

The emerging bio-tech industry has caused many problems for legal scholars. The bio-tech companies, which often do not make any product protectable under one of the standard intellectual property regimes, are nevertheless extremely important in the development of data that helps pharmaceutical companies (pharmas) develop new drugs faster and cheaper. This paper will look at one such product: genomic databases. Genomic databases produce an especially interesting subject for study because databases currently are not protected by any law. Companies that make these databases usually license these to their clients, both because this provides the database with some form of protection, and because the large amount of money at stake usually makes the cost of negotiating a license small as a percentage of the deal. This paper will look at licensing, and also at the main alternatives to licensing, either proposed or available now, and whether any of these may prove more advantageous to the companies or the general public.

Date
Links