RUSSIAN BIO ENTREPRENEUR: STRONGER IP REQUIRED

Interesting article at nature.com about the state of biotechnology commercialization in Russia.  The main perceived problem: a lack of strong intellectual property protection coupled with an unfamiliarity with "western" style commercialization activities such as licensing, patenting and business plans.

"One of the saddest things I ever saw was in the early 1990s when a ministerial delegation [from Russia] came to the UK with a thick book listing all their biotech prospects and inventions," says Ian Harvey, CEO of the London-based British Technology Group (BTG) and chair of the UK Intellectual Property Institute. By publishing these ideas in a brochure, the group had put them in the public domain, destroying their patentability, he says. "It's like if you're [trying to] help your parents but it turns out you've actually killed them instead."

Education is key in the circumstances:  the scenario discussed above could easily be forestalled with a small amount of planning and education.  Unfortunately, such a lack of understanding is not uncommon in the U.S. or Europe and many innovators or entrepreneurs have found themselves on the wrong end of a "who invented/patented first" dispute.  Universities and academic institutions have the decked stacked against them -- the academic culture of "publish or perish" and collaboration ensures that all too often the university tech transfer department is the last department to know of a ground-breaking innovation.

What is the solution?  Ask 10,000 technology specialists and you would get 10,001 different answers.  My take: The simple and sometimes non-obvious starting point -- education.  We as individuals interested in IP must do a better job educating folks outside our profession: instead of a lawyer focused CLE, speak to a business group or technology trade group. Your clients (and their peers) will appreciate your efforts.

As an aside, if anyone would like a speaker for the Bahamas in January, 2005 .... email me.