The pandemic as a stress test of the patent system – a legal-economic re-examination of exclusivity, liability rules, open innovation, and complementary policy levers

在COVID-19大流行期间，欧洲专利制度需要证明它可以在极端情况下发挥作用。虽然某些机构和市场参与者强调知识产权在抗击SARS-CoV-2方面的重要性，但其他人认为知识产权是迫切需要的创新的障碍。事实上，专利的创新激励机制依赖于排他性--这一概念自然与共同抗击大流行病的理念截然相反。本项目将调查欧洲专利制度是否适合大流行病或类似的紧急状态。该分析基于一个一般假设，即欧洲专利法的结构是生命科学产业创新的主要驱动力，但可能需要微调和补充政策措施才能更好地发挥作用。因此，该项目将集中在三个主要的研究问题：第一个研究问题是专利法是否提供了足够的例外，以服务于公共利益的排他性。第二个研究问题是专利法是否为流行病期间的开放式创新提供了有益的结构。第三个研究问题是社会是否需要专利制度的补充政策措施作为大流行期间创新的驱动力。由于制药部门在大流行情景中的重要性，该部门被选为分析的研究领域。本研究的方法论将主要依赖于理论比较分析：比较法律的分析和经济学中的比较静态学。案例研究和圆桌研讨会将与某些制药公司的多名代表一起进行，这些代表被选为最佳实践。这项研究将有助于相关学术领域的基础研究问题。其结果也将有可能为政策制定者、专利局、法院和立法者在未来的决策中提供服务，从而为公共利益做出贡献。

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the European patent system needs to prove that it can function under extreme circumstances. While certain institutions and market players emphasize its importance in the fight against SARS-CoV-2, others consider IPRs as a hindrance to urgently needed innovation. Indeed, the innovation incentive mechanism of patents relies on exclusivity – a concept that naturally appears to be diametrically opposed to the idea of a joint fight against a pandemic.This project will investigate whether the European patent system is fit for a pandemic or a similar state of emergency. The analysis is based on the general hypothesis that the structure of European patent law is a major driver for innovation in the Life Sciences Industry but might need finetuning and complementary policy measures for an even better functioning. Thereby, the project will focus on three main research questions: The first research question asks whether patent law provides sufficient exceptions to exclusivity to serve the public interest. The second research question asks whether patent law offers beneficial structures for open innovation during pandemics. The third research question asks whether society needs complementary policy measures to the patent system as drivers for innovation during pandemics. The pharmaceutical sector has been selected as a field of study for the analysis due to its importance in pandemic scenarios. The methodology of the study will rely mainly on a theoretical comparative analysis: comparative legal analysis and comparative statics in economics. Case studies and roundtable workshops will be carried out with multiple representatives of certain pharmaceutical companies, selected as representing best practices.This study will contribute to fundamental research questions within the relevant academic fields. Its results will also have the potential to serve policy makers, patent offices, courts and legislators in their future decision making contributing thereby to the public good.