“Oppose efforts to provide intellectual property waivers for cutting-edge technologies, including for COVID-19 vaccines and therapeutics, through the World Trade Organization’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights agreement or any other mechanism.”
Citation: Project 2025, Section 4.1: Department of Commerce, Thomas F. Gilman, page 717, paragraph 10
Context:
Yikes. Intellectual property waivers mean allowing others to use patented technologies without paying the original creators or companies. In the case of vaccines, rescinding these waivers would be incredibly dangerous. Philosophically and ethically, there’s an argument to be made here that technologies impacting public health should be treated as a public good – the idea that developed countries and corporations have a moral obligation to share, particularly in poorer countries. Not doing so would perpetuate global inequality and in this case, perpetuate preventable diseases.
Full contextual analysis of Section 4.1: Department of Commerce here.
Section: Section 4.1: Department of Commerce
Categories: COVID-19, Health Care