Public Access to Results of Scientific and Technological Development: Legal Aspects

Abstract

The article is devoted to legal aspects of providing public access to scientific results protected by intellectual property rights. Acknowledging impermissibility of unlimited use of exclusive rights for the protection of research outcomes, the author comes up with the question, whether the results of research activity shall be categorized separately and in a specific way. Legal instruments, employed in national legislation and in international treaties to limit the exclusive rights in situations, when public interests are in question, are analyzed in the light of their relevance to the goals of providing access to scientific developments.