This insightful and important new book explores the role played by Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in articulating concerns at the TRIPS Council, the WIPO, the WHO, the CBD-COP and the FAO that intellectual property rights can have negative consequences for developing countries. Duncan Matthews describes how coalitions of international NGOs have influenced the way that the relationship between intellectual property rights and development is understood, often framing the message as a human rights issue to emphasize these concerns and ensure that access to medicines, food security and the rights of indigenous peoples over their traditional knowledge are protected.

Based on extensive research undertaken in Geneva and in developing countries, the book also reveals how NGOs and broader social movements in Brazil, India and South Africa have played a crucial role in addressing the negative impacts of intellectual property rights by using human rights law as a practical tool before national courts and when seeking to influence national legislation and government policy.

Intellectual Property, Human Rights and Development will appeal to academics, practitioners, activists, international negotiators and to postgraduate students in intellectual property law, human rights law, the international political economy of intellectual property rights and development studies.

About the Author
Duncan Matthews, Professor of Intellectual Property Law, Queen Mary, University of London, UK

Reviews
'Professor Matthews has deftly and meticulously contributed to our growing grasp of civil society actors and their expanding influence within global legal regimes. This is no minor feat, either for him or the subjects of this book.' -- Margaret Chon, The IP Law Book Review
'Each chapter analyses both policy areas, access to medicines and agriculture/genetic resources. These three exceptionally rich, fieldwork-based case studies constitute the meat - and the principal contribution - of this book. . . The book marks a major contribution for the empirical material alone.' -- Ken Shadlen, Journal of Development Studies
'Duncan Matthews has produced a first-rate, in-depth analysis of the role of NGOs in international and national intellectual property policy. Based on extensive primary research, this book provides a smart, thoughtful perspective on the role of key developing country NGOs, NGOs' relationships with national policymakers, and with multilateral institutions. Everyone interested in the interface of intellectual property policy and human rights, development, access to medicines, farmers' rights, and biodiversity should read this compelling account. I highly recommend this excellent contribution to our understanding.' -- Susan K. Sell, George Washington University, US
'One of the features of international negotiations has been the increasing participation of non-governmental organizations. In this important book, Duncan Matthews shows the nature and extent of NGO influence in the negotiations over intellectual property. Written with great clarity and drawing on interview data and case studies, the book will be valuable to both scholars and practitioners working in international negotiation.' -- Peter Drahos, Australian National University



Book Information
ISBN 9781847207852
Author Duncan Matthews
Format Hardback
Page Count 304
Imprint Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Publisher Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd