NAME : JAANVI MAHAJAN

COURSE : 2BALLB HONS.

REGISTRATION NO. : 22212033
SUBJECT : LAW AND MEDICINE 
SUBMITTED TO : MRS. VIJAISHREE DUBEY PANDEY
The Patenting Shift: A
Human Rights
Dilemma
  In the early 2000s, there was a shift in the patenting world.
Companies were no longer focused solely on patenting products,
but also on patenting the processes behind them. This new era
brought about both excitement and concern.
 On one hand, it allowed for more innovation and creativity as
The Birth of a companies could protect their unique processes. On the other
New Patenting hand, it raised questions about the impact on human rights,
particularly in developing countries where these patents could
Era limit access to life-saving technologies.
 As the world adjusted to this new patenting landscape, debates
raged on about the balance between intellectual property rights
and human rights.
  One of the industries most affected by this patenting shift was
healthcare. Pharmaceutical companies had long been patenting
their drugs, but now they were also patenting the processes used
to create them.
The Impact on  This led to increased costs for consumers and limited access to
life-saving medications. In some cases, generic versions of drugs
Healthcare were not able to be produced due to patents on the
manufacturing process.
 Advocates for human rights argued that access to healthcare is a
basic human right and that these patents were hindering that
right.
  Developing countries were hit hardest by the patenting shift.
Many of these countries relied on importing generic versions of
medications to provide affordable healthcare to their citizens.
The Role of  However, with the new patents on processes, these countries
were unable to produce their own generic versions, leading to
Developing higher costs and limited access to necessary medications.
Countries  Human rights advocates called for a reevaluation of the patenting
system to ensure that basic human rights were not being violated
in the pursuit of intellectual property protection.
  As the patenting shift continued, concerns arose about the impact
on access to information. With patents on processes, companies
were able to keep their methods secret, limiting the ability for
others to learn and improve upon them.
The Fight for  This led to calls for greater transparency in the patenting system,
Access to with some arguing that the public has a right to know how certain
products are made.
Information  Others countered that companies have a right to protect their
trade secrets and that forcing them to disclose their processes
would stifle innovation and creativity. 
  As companies focused more on processes than products, they
began to prioritize profits over people.
 Workers were often subjected to harsh conditions and long hours,
The Human with little regard for their well-being. And in some cases,
companies even used their patents to prevent others from
Cost developing life-saving technologies or medicines.
 This led to widespread criticism and calls for greater regulation of
the patent system, to ensure that human rights were not being
violated in the pursuit of profit.
  As the patenting shift continues to evolve, the debate over its
impact on human rights remains unresolved. Some argue that the
benefits of protecting intellectual property outweigh any potential
negative effects on human rights.
 Others believe that the patenting system needs to be reformed to
The Future of better balance the interests of intellectual property protection and
basic human rights.
Patenting  As technology continues to advance and new innovations emerge,
the future of patenting remains uncertain. One thing is clear
though - the impact on human rights will continue to be a major
consideration in the patenting landscape. 
  Throughout the patenting shift, advocacy played a crucial role in
raising awareness about the impact on human rights. Activists and
organizations worked tirelessly to push for greater transparency and
reform in the patenting system.
 Their efforts led to changes in policy and increased public scrutiny of
the patenting process. While the debate over the balance between
intellectual property protection and human rights continues,
The Power of advocacy has proven to be a powerful force for change.
 As the world moves forward, it will be up to advocates to continue to
Advocacy push for a patenting system that protects both innovation and basic
human rights. 
 Companies however have begun to realize that sustainability and
social responsibility were just as important as innovation and profit.
And so, they started to develop new processes that took into
account the needs of workers, consumers, and the environment.
 The patenting shift had been a bumpy ride, but ultimately it led to a
brighter future for everyone.