생명공학특허에 있어서 인권 문제

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to consider the relationship between human rights and patent rights for biotechnology by examining the legal meaning of international human rights and comparing with the Korean Constitution Articles. Patent rights issues have interacted with human rights, negatively or positively. The exercise of patent rights, for instance, has implications for the right to health. The patent protection of drugs for illnesses like HIV/AIDS can be considered to negatively impact on human rights. Besides, the problem of patents of life forms, plant varieties and biotechnology based on indigenous people's knowledge without prior informed consent are among the most serious issues in the contemporary conflicts between intellectual property rights and human rights. Further concern has been expressed over the growing process of monopolization that is taking place in the seed and biotechnology industries. The processes of "bio-piracy" - the exploitation and private appropriation of traditional forms of knowledge - have serious implications for farmers in countries where technological and industrial resources are simply inadequate to prohibit such piracy. Under these circumstances, pro-patent perspective without considering human rights will result in meaningless conflicts and cause a vicious circle between human rights and intellectual property rights. Overall, my view is that it is necessary for intellectual property experts to review intellectual property system through the eyes of human rights advocates.