Moderna waiving Intellectual Property rights for the remainder of the pandemic (2020)

Re:Moderna waiving Intellectual Property rights for the rema... by capableweb on Monday April 26, 2021 @07:51AM (#26941522)

> Beyond Moderna’s vaccine, there are other COVID-19 vaccines in development that may use Moderna-patented technologies. We feel a special obligation under the current circumstances to use our resources to bring this pandemic to an end as quickly as possible. Accordingly, while the pandemic continues, Moderna will not enforce our COVID-19 related patents against those making vaccines intended to combat the pandemic. Further, to eliminate any perceived IP barriers to vaccine development during the pandemic period, upon request we are also willing to license our intellectual property for COVID-19 vaccines to others for the post pandemic period.

This is great! Moderna shows the world that you can be innovative and charitable while still running a for-profit business.

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Re:Moderna waiving Intellectual Property rights for the rema... by joosters on Monday April 26, 2021 @07:57AM (#26941568)

upon request we are also willing to license our intellectual property for COVID-19 vaccines to others

How is that different from what they would be doing normally? Companies generally like to license their IP, it brings in lots of cash for little (extra) effort. Note that they don't claim to be offering reduced license fees in this part of their statement!

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Re:Moderna waiving Intellectual Property rights for the rema... by Kalium on Monday April 26, 2021 @07:58AM (#26941587)

Companies like Moderna that are currently using IP are not always willing to license it. Sometimes they prefer to keep it in-house and reserved for their own use.

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Re:Moderna waiving Intellectual Property rights for the rema... by ethbr0 on Monday April 26, 2021 @08:13AM (#26941688)

Especially given not all of the world has a tradition of caring about foreign IP enforcement. Say, post-pandemic and when you'd like to use Moderna's methods for other drugs.

Which, say what you want about IP law, but pharma objectively has the best claim to it -- if we want new drugs and safety, exclusivity periods and sole ownership of IP are the only way to balance the massive initial financial outlay. (Without funding it directly from government)

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Re:Moderna waiving Intellectual Property rights for the rema... by bluGill on Monday April 26, 2021 @10:09AM (#26942649)

Sometimes. Most companies have a complex set of what they license and what they don't. In part it is based on fees, in part based on what the other will do it with it.

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