Covid vaccines spur global fight over intellectual property | Financial Times

"A long-simmering battle over Covid-19 vaccine patents is reaching boiling point.... Some hope that if the World Trade Organization waives a longstanding agreement designed to protect intellectual property, known as the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, or Trips, more manufacturers could make the vaccines and boost supply.

India and South Africa are leading the push for a Trips waiver, with many other low-income countries having also signed up, arguing it is the only way to ensure “fair, equitable and affordable access” to Covid-19 products, including vaccines and drugs.

The proposal comes after a World Health Organization attempt to encourage the pooling of intellectual property — the Covid-19 Technology Access Pool — received limited interest last year from countries and companies holding the IP rights...."