UC Irvine hosts Patent Sovereignty and International Law on October 16, 2015.
The international patent system walks a tightrope between harmonization and diversity. Harmonization efforts offer the benefit of uniformity, but because of diverse national interests, one size cannot fit all countries. What national flexibilities do current treaties such as the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) offer? Given the rise of regional trade agreements, and controversies over “fast track” negotiating authority, what flexibilities will be available in the future? This conference begins with the recent Declaration on Patent Protection and Regulatory Sovereignty Under TRIPs as a launching point to explore the proper balance between international patent harmonization and national sovereignty.
