Paul Oldham

Manchester Institute of Innovation Research

This article uses data from Thomson Reuters Web of Science to map and analyse the scientific landscape for synthetic biology. The article draws on recent advances in data visualisation and analytics with the aim of informing upcoming international policy debates on the governance of synthetic biology by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical...

In the absence of a governance framework for climate engineering technologies such as solar radiation management (SRM), the practices of scientific research and intellectual property acquisition can de facto shape the development of the field. It is therefore important to make visible emerging patterns of research and patenting, which we suggest ca...

This article presents the global patent landscape for synthetic biology as a new and emerging area of science and technology. The aim of the article is to provide an overview of the emergence of synthetic biology in the patent system and to contribute to future research by providing a high quality tagged core dataset with 7,424 first filings and 71...

This article examines biodiversity research and innovation in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean based on a review of 150,401 scientific articles and 29,690 patent families for Antarctic species. The paper exploits the growing availability of open access databases, such as the Lens and Microsoft Academic Graph, along with taxonomic data from the Glo...

This report examines the scientific and patent landscape for marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) based on large scale text mining of the scientific and patent literature. The report was commissioned by DEFRA in the UK to inform preparations for debates on the new Oceans treaty on biodiversity beyond national jurisd...

The Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, also called the Oceans or the High Seas Agreement is the newest international law Treaty negotiated at the United Nations. The conclusion of this Treaty is widely regarded as an expression of successful multilateralism. The substantive provisions on marine genetic resources in Part II of...

In December 2022, the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Global Biodiversity Framework. The Decisions taken in support of the Framework represent a significant phase shift in the approach to governance of digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources. The authors observe that t...

Work in progress. Updated versions may be available. This note provides the background to the BBNJ standardised batch identifier that appears within the text of the new High Seas Treaty. The note should be read in conjunction with Oldham, Chiarolla and Thambisetty 'Digital Sequence Information in the UN High Seas Treaty: Insights from the Global...

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) urges its member countries and other stakeholders to engage in plural values approach to implementing its core mandate of conserving biodiversity (CBD, 1992; Aichi Target 1). This is a key principle for the CBD’s third objective of ensuring equitable share of benefits arising from the commercial use of g...

In December 2022, the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the Global Biodiversity Framework. The Decisions taken in support of the Framework represent a significant phase shift in the approach to governance of digital sequence information (DSI) on genetic resources. The authors observe that t...

This paper forms part of work on options to address digital sequence information under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and related instruments and processes. The paper addresses the sharing of digital sequence information in the context of the need to generate monetary benefits for investments in biodiversity and a need to inv...

Background The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) formally recognized the sovereign rights of nations over their biological diversity. Implicit within the treaty is the idea that mega-biodiverse countries will provide genetic resources and grant access to them and scientists in high-income countries will use these resources and...

The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) formally recognized the sovereign rights of nations over their biological diversity. Implicit within the treaty is the idea that mega-biodiverse countries will provide genetic resources and grant access to them and scientists in high-income countries will use these resources and share back...

Report for the European Commission on technical aspects of digital sequence information. The report adopts a sustainable social ecological systems approach to the analysis of DSI and argues that biodiversity is not free but has to be paid for. On that basis any option on DSI should generate revenue for biodiversity. The report analyses the relation...

The report examines the scientific and patent landscape for marine genetic resources in South East Asian (ASEAN) countries.

The WIPO Patent Landscape Report on Animal Genetic Resources. Prepared for the Patent Landscape Reports Project of the World Intellectual Property Organization in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. The report provides a global overview of patent activity involving animal genetic resources and considers t...

This report examines the scientific and patent landscape for marine genetic resources in areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ) based on large scale text mining of the scientific and patent literature. The report was commissioned by DEFRA in the UK to inform preparations for debates on the new Oceans treaty on biodiversity beyond national jurisd...

Biological diversity in the patent system is an enduring focus of controversy but empirical analysis of the presence of biodiversity in the patent system has been limited. To address this problem we text mined 11 million patent documents for 6 million Latin species names from the Global Names Index (GNI) established by the Global Biodiversity Infor...

Explanations for the Tableau Public Synthetic Biology Scientific Landscape online workbook. (DOC)

Packaged Tableau Workbook for use with Tableau Reader 7.0. (ZIP)

This report provides analysis and factual data on ways forward for the successful introduction of a practical system for monitoring the utilisation of genetic resources and traditional knowledge in patent applications. It suggests a resolution to a key issue blocking the creation of such a system. This resolution is based on 4 elements: 1. Acknowle...

This report provides analysis and factual data on ways forward for the successful introduction of a practical system for monitoring the utilisation of genetic resources and traditional knowledge in patent applications. It suggests a resolution to a key issue blocking the creation of such a system. This resolution is based on 4 elements: 1. Acknow...

Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity are entering the final stages of the negotiation of an international regime on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing to address the problem of biopiracy of genetic resources and traditional knowledge. As the negotiations move towards the expected adoption of the framework for the internati...

This report provides the first edition of a European patent indicator for access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing developed for the European Environment Agency as part of the Streamlining European Biodiversity Indicators (SEBI 2010) process (Report EEA/BSS/08/012). The patent indicator identifies biodiversity and traditional knowledge withi...

This paper is concerned with contributing to the development of a clearer view of patent activity in relation to biological diversity and traditional knowledge. The paper focuses on the need for evidence based approaches to the analysis and assessment of patent activity and addresses three main questions: What is actually happening in relation to t...

This paper was prepared as a contribution to analysis and discussion surrounding the development of an international regime on access to genetic resources and benefit-sharing under the Convention on Biological Diversity (Decision VII/19). The paper provides a review and assessment of the implications of trends in relation to genomics, proteomics an...

This article reports on the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples on the 13th of September 2007 by the United Nations General Assembly. The article examines the final stages of the negotiation of the Declaration and briefly considers the role that anthropology might play in promoting this new human rights instru...

This paper provides a series of international indicators for biodiversity and traditional knowledge within the global patent system. The indicators are based on a review of the International Patent Classification in use by patent offices worldwide and enable the analysis of a wide variety of sectors and sub-sectors of activity. Nine main sectors ar...

This patent dataset is made available by the authors to encourage further research and methodological development. In making the dataset available in an open access journal our aim is to encourage greater research and data sharing on intellectual property and biodiversity. On that basis the sole condition of use is attribution of authorship. Excel...

The extension of intellectual property rights into the realm of biology has emerged as an increasing focus of controversy in relation to science, biodiversity, agriculture, health, development, human rights and trade. This paper presents the results of a review of international trends in activity for patent protection between 1990-2000 and provisio...

This article examines the relationship between the concept of biopiracy and the emerging concept of the bioeconomy in the context of negotiations on the establishment of an international regime on access to genetic resources and benefit sharing under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The article explores the background to access and benefit-s...

The paper provides a review and preliminary assessment of the implications of intellectual property claims in relation to microorganisms for the development of an international regime on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-Sharing under the Convention on Biological Diversity. The paper is divided into two sections. Section 1 considers the publi...

Negotiating Diversity is an international field guide to the Convention that is designed to assist indigenous peoples and local communities seeking to engage with the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Field Guide explores key areas of the Convention which concern the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities and identifies opportunit...