While Intellectual Property issues have long been on the radar of the technology enthusiast, their impact is also strongly felt in the developing world. The US's pursuit of a maximalist approach to IP prevents researchers and healthcare providers from being able to review the most current data on treatments both domestically and around the world, and medicine out of the hands of those who need it desperately.

This talk is intended to give a brief overview of IP issues in health and medicine, and draw parallels between PhRMA's role in global health, the scientific publishing lobby's role in access to knowledge issues, and the RIAA and MPAA's role in free culture and technology.

rigel

rigel is a second year medical student and open access activist. he has previously worked on access to medicines issues through Knowledge Ecology International, and holds a seat on the PharmFree steering committee of the American Medical Student Association, which deals with Conflict of Interest, Open Access, and Access to Medicines issues.