Commercialization of Genetic Resources: Leveraging of Ex Situ Genetic Resources to Shape Downstream IP Protection

Abstract

Ex situ collections that hold genetic materials operate as contractual points of articulation between countries of origin and recipients and/or prospective developers. In that capacity, collections are in a position both to negotiate clarification of Convention on Biological Diversity obligations and, by virtue of their control over biological materials, to impose IP-related conditions on recipients.This paper proposes the concept of a "rebundling" of IP rights: the prospective patentee would relinquish its entitlement to full exclusivity under patent law, in exchange for freedom to operate from a patent perspective plus access to other material recipients' technology. The "rebundling" could take the form of a patent pooling arrangement and would give multiple players a chance to participate in the market.