IP and ethics: The impact of ethical considerations on the existence or enforcement of IP rights

Watch the video of this event

A panel discussion jointly organised by the UCL Institute of Brand and Innovation Law and AIPPI UK:

• Mr Justice Carr (Judge of the High Court of England and Wales)
• Professor Pete Coffey (Professor of Visual Psychophysics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology)
• Professor Aurora Plomer (Professor of Law and Bioethics, University of Sheffield)
• Professor Lionel Bently (Herchel Smith Professor of Intellectual Property Law, University of Cambridge)

Chaired by Professor Sir Robin Jacob (UCL IBIL)

About the talk

This Seminar will examine the impact of ethical considerations on the existence or enforcement of IP rights. It will in particular examine the exclusions from patentability in the Biotech Directive, including its interpretation by the CJEU in Brüstle and International Stem Cell Corporation, the EPO Enlarged Board Decisions on plant patentability in Broccoli II and Tomatoes II, and the exclusions under Art. 53(a) of the EPC (“ordre public” or morality). We will also look at the extent to which unethical works may be deprived of copyright or are unenforceable, and whether trade mark registration should be denied to those who seek to exploit marks such as “Je Suis Charlie” and “MH370”.