Genetic inventions and a licence to exploit

The right to exploit genetic information for commercial gain is fraught with issues, ethical and otherwise. The topic is important for businesses that want create new technologies from research into genetics. That's why it makes sense to consult this new set of guidelines from the OECD.

 

Dealing with "Licensing of Genetic Inventions," these Guidelines "offer principles and best practices for the licensing of genetic inventions used in human health care. They are targeted at all those involved with innovation and the provision of services in health, and particularly at those involved in the licensing of such inventions."

 

Generally a good guide for agreements on any technology, the report has many points that are, as you would expect, special to genetics. For example, the guidelines suggest that "License agreements should not provide the licensor with exclusive control over human genetic information, including collections of such information, derived from individuals through the use of the licensed genetic invention."

 

The underlying thrust of the guidelines seems to be that new knowledge should be developed as quickly and as broadly as possible. So locking up an area is a bad thing. "Since genetic inventions often have many applications in clinical research and clinical practice, licensors should attempt, to the extent commercially practical, to license these inventions out broadly."