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Suppose Iran passed a law invalidating all patents of drugs it cannot buy on the market at market prices. Possibly appointing an agency to sort out which ones t

Suppose Iran passed a law invalidating all patents of drugs it cannot buy on the market at market prices. Possibly appointing an agency to sort out which ones they are exactly and publish lists. Any drug featured in such lists would be thereby clear for anyone to manufacture in Iran. What would the consequences be?

smnrchrds 8y ago
That is essentially the status quo. The issue is not patents, it is that Iran does not have the technology to manufacture these drugs. Unlike copyright, patents are country-specific. If you register a patent in the US, it is not valid in Argentina. If you register a patent in Russia, you cannot sue people for infringement in the US. There are of course trade agreements and other treaties that make it possible to register a patent in one country and have it recognized in multiple others. But for the most part, you have to register a patent in every country you wish to enforce it. Since in general, US does not allow US companies to do business with Iran, none of these patents are registered or recognized in Iran. Iran is not even a signatory of international copyright treaties, let alone bilateral patent recognition treaties. In general, any IP produced outside of Iran is fair game in Iran and vice versa. The issue is not the laws, it is that the technology to make them is not available in Iran, and any attempt to purchase the technology is thwarted with the same sanctions regime.
A2017U1 8y ago
India blatantly does this already. They've cancelled valid patents when it suits them. To add insult to injury they also sell huge amounts back to America, it's their biggest pharma export market. Ive seen estimates around tens of billions of lost revenue from US biotech companies every year.
- AsyncAwait 8y ago
  > They've cancelled valid patents when it suits them. You mean when it has the potential to save millions of lives vs pay less in pharma CEO bonuses? > Ive seen estimates around tens of billions of lost revenue from US biotech companies every year. Cry me a river.
  - A2017U1 8y ago
    It's actually incredibly harmful to Indians, the healthcare costs gained aren't much, medicines are licensed for a fraction of what consumers pay in the West. Yet because of their incredibly weak IP protections many drug companies are reluctant to sell there. Hundreds of medicines simply aren't available despite being released a decade earlier and Indians in need have to pay European prices for access to modern pharmaceuticals. It's entirely destroyed any chance for local r&d too. It's not a net benefit. I'm all for sticking it to the Man and especially criticising big pharma but suggest reconsidering your viewpoint here. https://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2014/09/09/indian-patients-suffer-from-indias-weak-pharmaceutical-patents https://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2014/09/09/indian...
masonic 8y ago
Suppose Iran passed a law invalidating all patents of drugs it cannot buy on the market at market prices. Like India?

smnrchrds 8y ago

That is essentially the status quo. The issue is not patents, it is that Iran does not have the technology to manufacture these drugs. Unlike copyright, patents are country-specific. If you register a patent in the US, it is not valid in Argentina. If you register a patent in Russia, you cannot sue people for infringement in the US. There are of course trade agreements and other treaties that make it possible to register a patent in one country and have it recognized in multiple others. But for the most part, you have to register a patent in every country you wish to enforce it. Since in general, US does not allow US companies to do business with Iran, none of these patents are registered or recognized in Iran. Iran is not even a signatory of international copyright treaties, let alone bilateral patent recognition treaties. In general, any IP produced outside of Iran is fair game in Iran and vice versa. The issue is not the laws, it is that the technology to make them is not available in Iran, and any attempt to purchase the technology is thwarted with the same sanctions regime.

A2017U1 8y ago

India blatantly does this already. They've cancelled valid patents when it suits them. To add insult to injury they also sell huge amounts back to America, it's their biggest pharma export market. Ive seen estimates around tens of billions of lost revenue from US biotech companies every year.

AsyncAwait 8y ago
> They've cancelled valid patents when it suits them. You mean when it has the potential to save millions of lives vs pay less in pharma CEO bonuses? > Ive seen estimates around tens of billions of lost revenue from US biotech companies every year. Cry me a river.
- A2017U1 8y ago
  It's actually incredibly harmful to Indians, the healthcare costs gained aren't much, medicines are licensed for a fraction of what consumers pay in the West. Yet because of their incredibly weak IP protections many drug companies are reluctant to sell there. Hundreds of medicines simply aren't available despite being released a decade earlier and Indians in need have to pay European prices for access to modern pharmaceuticals. It's entirely destroyed any chance for local r&d too. It's not a net benefit. I'm all for sticking it to the Man and especially criticising big pharma but suggest reconsidering your viewpoint here. https://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2014/09/09/indian-patients-suffer-from-indias-weak-pharmaceutical-patents https://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2014/09/09/indian...

masonic 8y ago

Suppose Iran passed a law invalidating all patents of drugs it cannot buy on the market at market prices. Like India?