Intellectual Property

  AI is changing healthcare, especially in diagnostics, by enabling faster, more accurate disease detection, personalized treatments, and even predictive analysis. From analyzing vast amounts of patient data to detecting pathogens and interpreting medical images, AI-powered tools are transforming how doctors approach care. For example, IBM's Watson AI diagnosed a rare form of leukemia in just 10 minutes by analyzing millions of oncology studies, and AI is increasingly being used for predictive disease modeling and automating lab tests.   As AI becomes more embedded in healthcare, protecting these innovations through patents is crucial. Patentable aspects of AI diagnostic tools include methods, systems, and devices. Strong documentation of training data is essential for building trust and gaining regulatory approval.   However, the rise of AI also brings ethical and legal concerns, such as data privacy, algorithmic bias, and the challenge of patenting adaptive systems. Ad...

Compulsory licensing (CL) is a vital legal tool that allows governments to authorize the production of patented products without the patent holder's consent, especially in times of public health emergencies. While CL helps to improve access to essential medicines, it can also raise concerns about potentially discouraging investment in research and development due to reduced financial returns for patent holders. The World Trade Organization's TRIPS Agreement aims to strike a balance between public health needs and intellectual property rights by permitting CL under specific conditions. Yet, challenges persist in implementing CL fairly, as it involves balancing the interests of both patent holders and the public. Other strategies, like partnerships, voluntary licensing, and differential pricing, can complement CL to ensure access to medicines while respecting intellectual property. In the face of public health crises, CL remains an essential mechanism. However, to implement it ef...