INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND GLOBAL INEQUALITY IN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has increased the inequality of rights around the world. The intellectual property system contributes to this asymmetry by limiting access to vaccines and other health technologies to only a few producers. This article addresses the impacts of this system, presents and analyses alternatives for broadening the supply of these health goods – such as compulsory licensing – and demonstrates the importance of defending the TRIPS Waiver mechanism in the fight against the coronavirus.

Keywords

• intellectual property
• global inequality
• covid-19 pandemic
• right to health
• trips waiver