Low-cost journals for poor states
Under a new scheme, developing countries are to be offered free or low-cost access to a range of online scientific journals covering patent laws. The Access to Research for Development and Innovation scheme gives patent offices in some of the world's poorest countries access to 150 publications covering background information on patent evaluations and how to commercialise inventions.
From the end of the year, patent offices in the 50 least-developed countries will be able to subscribe free of charge, while a further 57 developing countries will be able to subscribe at a low cost. The scheme was launched last month by the UN World Intellectual Property Organisation and a number of major global publishers.
Source: Panos London
