Intellectual
Property Rights
Resource Center
The CGIAR-CSI promotes open and fair data sharing
and dissemination. However, we realize the there are many contingencies
and caveats which are important to all concerned in the data creation,
qualtity maintanence and dissemination process. In order to facilitate
broad collaboration and the wide use and application of geospatial science,
we hope to provide some guidelines for scientists and practioners, especially
as to how IPR policies and legal restrictions affect geospatial data
and sharing. As a first step, the CGIAR-CSI has worked to produce a
preliminary primer on”Legal issues”, which is available
HERE for download.
We hope, over the next few months to build
this page as a resource center for IPR Guidelines and Information. Please
continue to check back for regular updates…
An Exploration of Legal Issues in International
Use of Spatial Data and Tools in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management
In common with most information
technologies, use of geographic information systems (GIS) raises concerns
over intellectual property (IP) both for data sets and software tools.
Additional legal issues, especially liability and protection of privacy,
also appear. In international agriculture and natural resource management,
concerns over legal implications of use of data and software frequently
restrict the distribution and use of spatial data and analytic tools,
which otherwise might be viewed as public goods that should be freely
available. Given the broad potential for GIS and related technologies
to improve the efficiency of research and development activities, any
such restriction is of obvious concern. Furthermore, in a parallel to
IP discussions in crop improvement, specific data sets or tools have
substantial commercial value (including in-non agricultural fields),
and judicious management of IP might permit leveraging additional resources
(e.g., through exchange of products or services) or be essential to
ensure freedom to operate.
In discussions on improving collaboration in use of GIS among CGIAR
centers and NARS, the Consortium for Spatial Information (CGIAR-CSI)
has identified legal issues in GIS as a major concern, particularly
in exchange of spatial data and tools. While a full review of legal
issues in GIS is beyond the capabilities of the CSI, a commissioned
study was thought to an effective vehicle for producing basic recommendations
that would facilitate international collaborations in GIS. To link this
work to broader expertise on intellectual property issues, the CGIAR
Central Advisory Service on Intellectual Property (CG-CAS)
was invited to co-develop the review document and assist with a one-day
workshop, which will be held on 28 May 2002, in the framework of the
meeting “Geospatial
Applications to Support Sustainable International Agriculture”
at USGS EROS Data Center, South Dakota, USA.
Download:
Executive Summary: "Legal
Issues n the Use of Geospatial Data and Tools for Agriculture and Natual
Resource Management: A Primer"
Full Report : "Legal
Issues n the Use of Geospatial Data and Tools for Agriculture and Natual
Resource Management: A Primer"
Funding for the workshop and publishing the
review document were provided by the Rockefeller Foundation.
Some Useful Links:
