About our Work

A growing number of academics and scientists, public interest groups and developing countries as well as LDCs have been actively pursuing an agenda for change in the way knowledge is produced and disseminated. The main concern is the negative effects that derive from the increased privatization of knowledge leading to the increase in the costs and availability of knowledge goods and services.

In the recent past, ideas for a new “governance of knowledge” structure are starting to be turned into practical proposals. While the proposals may vary, the different approaches seek to counterbalance the distorting force of trends towards privatization and appropriation by supporting the adoption and development of effective access to knowledge policies.  There are important challenges ahead in advancing any of the initiatives addressing the issue of access to knowledge and the problems of stronger standards of intellectual property protection. The different proposals also show the complexity of the issues involved, and hence the need for further research in the areas.

Current Research Areas

• Alternative Mechanisms for Promoting Innovation, Access to Knowledge, and R&D
  The research focuses on the potential for innovation through alternative models to the traditional forms of IP protection.
• Access to Digital and other Educational, Scientific and other Knowledge
  While digital technology offers powerful means to create and disseminate information, it also provides means to erect barriers to access and use of digital content. Research here focuses on technological protection measures (TPMs) and the regulation of “circumvention” devices; protection of broadcasting organisations including webcasting; the use of contract law to control access to digital works as well as the use of other forms of protection such as data base protection; and special problems and issues with regard to disabled people and in respect to distance education.

Publications

For publications and papers on this issue area click here

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