Hue and cry over copyrights

The system of patents, copyright and other intellectual property rights has come under public attack, including from scientists and law professors who say that the system has gone too far in benefiting a few people at the expense of the majority. 

A WIDE range of criticisms emerged at a conference on the Future of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) earlier this month in Geneva. The critics are concerned and even angry that patents and copyright are given – mainly to companies in developed countries – too freely and on terms that unfairly penalise consumers, researchers and small producers.