Beyond the patents and copyrights: the know-how and "trade secrets" --- I have a comment about the waiver to the TRIPS for Covid-19 vaccines. Even if the EU and Japan change their mind and this temporary waiver is approved at the WTO, it remains to be seen if and how enough companies in India or South Africa are able produce vaccines for instance, a very complex process. Often, they will need not just access to the aforementioned IP rights, but also to the specific and intangible know-how that the original manufacturers possess, which requires total involvement from them. We have a better chance at fostering cooperation in form of joint-venture with transfer of knowledge.

Source author: Mouloud Khelif mouloud.khelif@gmail.com