IPR Forum held at UPLB

University of the Philippines Los Banos - Australian academician and social scientist Dr. Sarah Wright talked about the implications of intellectual property rights (IPR) on life in a forum hosted by MASIPAG and AGHAM-Laguna last July 6.

Dr. Wright, an Associate Professor from the University of Newcastle talked about IPR in the context of free trade, with the inclusion of patenting in the World Trade Organization (WTO) through the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) agreement.

"IPRs are very constricting," said Dr. Wright. "With a patent regime, control over traditional knowledge, genetic resources and access to research and medicine are threatened."

The said forum is sponsored by RESIST (Resistance and Solidarity Against Agrochemical TNCs) and No Patents on Life - Asia and is part of the week-long series of fora and discussion held and hosted by the different member organization of RESIST. UPLB student organizations such as the UPHILSAMS and STP-UPLB also participated as co-hosts of the activity.

Related story: http://www.agham.org/gallery/_lagiprforum.html