As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, vaccines have allowed some freedom from the virus. But, patents on the vaccines are preventing others around the world from receiving the life saving shot. In turn, the White House has received pressure to waive patents on the vaccines to make it more accessible.
“The patent office wants to characterize itself as being very limited and administrative. It really is a staunch defender of patents as the sole or significant primary way in which we stimulate innovation in the United States,” Shobita Parthasarathy, professor of public policy, said. “There has been growing public scrutiny, pressure, and frustration around intellectual property. The question is whether the patent office will go along.”
