What's yours is ours: waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines.
J Med Ethics
; 47(9): 595-598, 2021 09.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1301667
ABSTRACT
This paper gives an ethical argument for temporarily waiving intellectual property (IP) protections for COVID-19 vaccines. It examines two proposals under discussion at the World Trade Organization (WTO) the India/South Africa proposal and the WTO Director General proposal. Section I explains the background leading up to the WTO debate. Section II rebuts ethical arguments for retaining current IP protections, which appeal to benefiting society by spurring innovation and protecting rightful ownership. It sets forth positive ethical arguments for a temporary waiver that appeal to standing in solidarity and holding companies accountable. After examining built-in exceptions to existing agreements and finding them inadequate, the paper replies to objections to a temporary waiver and concludes, in section III, that the ethical argument for temporarily waiving IP protection for COVID-19 vaccines is strong.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19 Vaccines
/
COVID-19
Topics:
Vaccines
Limits:
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
J Med Ethics
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Medethics-2021-107555
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