Description

As part of the world's move to combat global warming, developing nations are likely to seek to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases, and particularly of carbon dioxide. They may have to obtain new technologies in order to do so. To that effect, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change calls on developed nations to assist developing nations through technology transfer. Policy makers and stakeholders in developing countries have raised concerns about potential barriers that intellectual property regimes may pose for access to clean energy technologies, and some have suggested considering the need for IPRs flexibilities for that matter.

As a contribution to a better understanding of the implications of intellectual property for Access to these technologies, ICTSD is pleased to convene this dialogue on Intellectual Property and Access to Clean Energy Technologies in Developing Countries - An Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic, Biofuel and Wind Technologies, to be held on 22 October 2007, at the World Meteorological Organization, in Geneva.

This event aims to review and discuss the results of a study that ICTSD has commissioned on the subject. The study by John H. Barton explores the question of whether there will be barriers, particularly IP barriers, for developing countries to access clean energy technologies. To do so, it examines the technology and industrial structure of three sectors - solar photo-voltaic (PV), bio-mass for fuel, and wind energy technologies in order to derive IPR implications for developing countries. The study concentrates on Brazil, China, and India.

Intellectual Property and Access to Clean Energy Technologies in Developing Countries, An Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic, Biofuel and Wind Technologies by John H. Barton, George E. Osborne, Professor of Law, Emeritus, Stanford Law School