Welcome

This weblog is intended as a forum for investigating and becoming better acquainted with the phenomenon of the supplementary protection certificate ("SPC"), a legal device for the extension of patents beyond their normal expiry date. The SPC Blog hopes to provide a vehicle for the transmission of news, analysis and ideally the establishment of a little community of people who are interested in the many issues that the extension of patents raise. We hope to bring together the points of view of

* patent owners who feel they cannot obtain a reasonable benefit from the patent grant on account of the lengthy regulatory procedures that require compliance before pharma and agrichemical products can be marketed,

* investors who may be reluctant to fund research and development if the prospect of a good commercial return is lacking,

* manufacturers and distributors of generic products, who are excluded from the market by the extension of patent grants,

* public sector purchasers of products, whose budgets may be restricted and subject to conditions unrelated to market forces,

* consumers whose access to products may be reduced or less affordable for as long as patent protection remains,

* national and regional competition authorities, which bear responsibility for ensuring that patent monopolies are not the basis for abuse of a dominant position.

If you'd like to know more about us, or would like to contribute material to The SPC Blog, please email any of the contributors whose names (linked to their relevant coordinates) appear in the box which you will find in the box near the top of the side panel to your left.