Author : Blakeney, Michael; Cohen, Joel I.; Crespi, Stephen

Summary : Abstract: Scientists, research directors and policymakers face complex questions and decisions when managing intellectual property rights (IPR) for agricultural research. This chapter discusses the impact of IPR in a biotechnological context. It explains differences between principal categories of IPR relevant to agricultural research: plant variety rights, patents, trademarks, ,confidential information, trade secrets, and copyright. Material transfer agreements and farmers' rights are also discussed. National, regional and international dimensions of these various forms of protection and agreements are reviewed, as well as the interrelationships between intellectual property and biodiversity rights.