What Innovation? Big Thinking on Progress and Measurement
There’s so much buzz about innovation and science and technology and productivity. But, what do we really mean by these terms? What does progress look like? How will we know when we’re doing better? How can we best promote innovation, which by definition is rarely predictable and often disruptive? On January 31, 2012, I delivered […]
Adapting to the Challenges of Regulating Agricultural Biotechnology
Biotechnology regulation is a controversial and complex issue. My research helps to solve practical challenges like building the policy consensus and public acceptance required to promote agricultural biotechnology as a solution to problems like food security, rural economic development, and science and technology innovation. One of my many public lectures about regulating biotechnology was a keynote presentation […]
How Intellectual Property Jurisdiction Impacts Biomedical Innovation for Better Health
The future of health care is being shaped by biotechnology. New technologies are providing patients with earlier diagnoses and superior treatment options. At the same time, developers of these technologies are seeking ways to maximize financial and strategic returns on their investments, and intellectual property is a primary vehicle for doing so. Intellectual property is, […]
Courts Play a Key Role in Regulation and Governance of Agricultural Innovation
Our courts, through litigation, can shape the regulation and governance of agricultural innovation, especially biotechnologies. As part of the University of Saskatchewan College of Law‘s Guest Speaker Program, I presented some of my new research: “Judging Biotech: How the Courts Control Our Crops,” explores how agricultural biotechnologies policy can be affected by litigation. Judging Biotech: How Courts […]
Network Governance of Biofuels: Can Policymakers Coordinate Multi-level Regulation?
“Network Governance of Biofuels” promotes a regulation and governance framework for biofuels that, while not necessarily simpler, let alone harmonized, is more coordinated and better rationalized. The analysis in this working paper is presented in two major sections, following a more detailed discussion in this introduction of key policy objectives for biofuels. First is an overview […]
Free Trade, Federalism & Technology Policy: A Public Lecture
This public lecture and accompanying presentation, explained how free trade, federalism, and technology policy are integrally linked. Among the core challenges is implementing the intellectual property provisions of international trade agreements, such as the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) in federal systems, a topic I’ve researched and written about extensively during my co-leadership of the […]
Accounting of Profits to Remedy Biotechnology Patent Infringement
A number of important agricultural biotechnology patent disputes have arisen in Canada since the 2004 Supreme Court of Canada decision in Monsanto v. Schmeiser. Typically, defendants no longer contest issues of patent validity or infringement. Instead, the controversies have shifted to discussions about applicable remedies for infringement. The companion cases of Rivett v Monsanto and […]
Remedies for Biotechnology Patent Infringement
A pair courts decisions have a big impact on remedies available for biotechnology patent infringement. Defendants in biotech patent lawsuits seem to be better off than previously thought. The result could mean revaluing Canadian patent portfolios based on enforceability issues, and revising business and intellectual property practices accordingly. Read the details in my article in The […]
Rights and Responsibilities of GMO Patent Owners
How Digital Rights Management Backfired on Sony BMG Music
When Sony BMG snuck restrictive contractual terms and digital rights management technologies onto tens of millions of CDs in 2006, the strategy backfired by alienating consumers as well as artists and leading to class action litigation against the company. My article explains, “How Restrictive Terms and Technologies Backfired on Sony BMG Music.” I argue that […]
