金大米的知识产权问题分析及启示

An Interpretation of the Intellectual Property Aspects of the Golden Rice and Its Implications

世界知名的转基因作物、富含类胡萝卜素的金大米是由公共研究机构以人道主义为目的研发的,金大米的研发过程经历曲折,它在得到众多荣耀的同时,也引来诸多争议,知识产权问题就是其中一个重要方面。本文在介绍金大米技术探索之路的基础上,通过分析金大米的知识产权问题,揭示表面上看来非常严重的知识产权障碍其实却并非不可逾越,尤其在发展中国家,例如在中国现在就可能没有与金大米相关的任何专利存在。本文还探讨了在生物技术领域内逐渐兴起的反公共地悲剧问题。最后结合实际,总结了金大米的知识产权问题带给中国科技工作者的启示,包括应认真对待在科研工作中可能出现的知识产权障碍和应认清中国现在仍基本处于公共地悲剧阶段而非反公共地悲剧阶段等。

As a world famous transgenic crop developed for a humanitarian target by public institutions, Golden Rice has been incurring, encountering and sustaining various glories, queries, and even blames as well upon its several aspects including the intellectual property rights （IPR）. Based on a brief introduction to its technological background, this article presents an interpretation of the IPR issues of the Golden Rice, and manifests that the originally portrayed ＂giant＂ IPR obstacle has actually not been so unsurmountable, especially in the target developing countries such as China in which temporarily no relevant patents may exist. In addition, the tragedy of the anticommons in biotechnology has been discussed. Finally, by referring to the actual situation of China, the article gives suggestions for the Chinese scientists and administrators on how to deal with the IPR issues in the biotech research and concludes that China has now been just at a stage of ＂tragedy of the commons＂ and not that of the ＂anticommons＂.