The importance of the commons in the context of intellectual property

CITATION: Van Der Walt, A.J. & Du Bois, M. 2013. The importance of the commons in the context of intellectual property. Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif 24(1):31-54.The original publication is available at https://journals.co.za/content/journal/ju_slrThe intellectual commons or public domain is an important part of intellectual property law scholarship. In this regard it is necessary to examine the origins of the commons, what exactly the intellectual commons is and how the notion of the intellectual commons may be further developed. Especially in the United States of America there are concerns that the intellectual commons is currently being enclosed by extending intellectual property protection to areas of intellectual activity that were previously excluded from propertisation; and by extending intellectual property protection of existing rights. It may be argued that some intellectual products should remain in the commons or revert back to the commons in order to ensure that enough remains so that new intellectual products may be developed based on these existing products. However, there must also be enough of a property-right based incentive in order to ensure continued investment in the creation of new intellectual products. The important question is then, how may these two interests be balanced? This article examines the issues related to the commons in order to provide a framework which future revisions to intellectual property legislation may use as a point of departure to ensure that South African legislation does not encroach on the intellectual commons unduly. Examples from copyright law, patent law and traditional knowledge are used to demonstrate how the intellectual commons and intellectual property statutes interact.Publishers versio

Life Cycle of Multi Technology Machine Tools – Modularization and Integral Design

AbstractFor reasons of high flexibility but still maximum productivity, machine tools integrating various production technologies have recently received particular attention. Combining and integrating multiple manufacturing techniques into one single system in early stages of the product emergence process is challenging. To keep the effort for implementation to a minimum, an initiation already in the concept phase is being actively pursued. Design guidelines are currently investigated based on the examination of different technology combinations.This approach focuses on systematic conceptual design for such hybrid machine technologies. Product architectures are used to describe the modularity and create a specific delimitation for standardization. Reference product architectures for Multi Technology Machine Tools (MTMT) carry high potential for saving expenses in product development. The main emphasis is on technology and system integration. A technological similarity assessment of the single processes involved forms the basis of this approach to assure potential for synergies. Monetary aspects in early stages of product development are considered. Based on the analysis a generic system model is connected with general product architectures for MTMT.The method introduced is validated by a Multi-Technology Machining Centre with two simultaneously usable workspaces integrating a milling spindle and two laser processing units. The research undertaken is part of the Cluster of Excellence “Integrative Production Technology for High-Wage Countries” and has been funded by German Research Foundation (DFG)

A phase I and pharmacokinetic study of novel taxane BMS-188797 and cisplatin in patients with advanced solid tumours

This phase I study investigated the maximum tolerated dose and pharmacokinetics of a 3-weekly administration of BMS-188797, a paclitaxel derivate, at three dose levels (DLs) (80, 110 and 150 mg m−2 DL), combined with cisplatin (standard dose 75 mg m−2). In 16 patients with advanced malignancies treated, one patient experienced dose-limiting febrile neutropenia, sepsis and severe colitis at the 150 mg m−2 DL; at the 110 mg m−2 DL one episode of dose-limiting grade 3 diarrhoea/nausea occurred. Grade 3/4 haematological toxicities were leucopenia/neutropenia; grade 3 nonhaematological toxicities were neuropathy, nausea, diarrhoea and stomatits. Objective response was seen in four patients, with three complete remissions in ovarian and cervical cancer patients. Pharmacokinetics of BMS-188797 appeared linear through the 110 mg m−2, but not through the 150 mg m−2 DL. The mean±SD values for clearance, distribution volume at steady state and terminal half-life during cycle 1 were 317±60 ml min−1 m−2, 258±96 l m−2 and 30.8±7.7 h, respectively. The maximum tolerated and recommended phase II dose for BMS-188797 was 110 mg m−2 (1-h infusion, every 3 weeks) combined with cisplatin 75 mg m−2

Genetic analysis of heterogeneous subsets of circulating tumour cells from high grade serous ovarian carcinoma patients

Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are heterogenous and contain genetic information from the tumour of origin. They bear specific intra- and extra-cellular protein markers aiding in their detection. However, since these markers may be shared with other rare cells in the blood, only genetic testing can confirm their malignancy. Herein, we analyse different CTC subsets using single cell whole genome DNA sequencing to validate their malignant origin. We randomly selected putative CTCs identified by immunostaining that were isolated from 4 patients with high grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC) and one with benign cystadenoma. We specifically targeted CTCs positive for epithelial (CK/EpCAMpos), mesenchymal (vimentinpos), and pseudoendothelial (CK/EpCAMpos plus CD31pos) markers. We isolated these cells and performed whole genome amplification (WGA) and low-pass whole-genome sequencing (LP-WGS) for analysis of copy number alterations (CNA). Of the CK/EpCAMpos cells analysed from the HGSOC patients, 2 of 3 cells showed diverse chromosomal CNAs. However, the 4 pseudoendothelial cells (CK/EpCAMpos plus CD31pos) observed in the HGSOC cases did not carry any CNA. Lastly, two of the clusters of vimentin positive cells sequenced from those found in the benign cystadenoma case had CNA. Despite the low number of cells analysed, our results underscore the importance of genetic analysis of putative CTCs to confirm their neoplastic origin. In particular, it highlights the presence of a population of CK/EpCAMpos cells that are not tumour cells in patients with HGSOC, which otherwise would be counted as CTCs

Differential Forms on Log Canonical Spaces

The present paper is concerned with differential forms on log canonical varieties. It is shown that any p-form defined on the smooth locus of a variety with canonical or klt singularities extends regularly to any resolution of singularities. In fact, a much more general theorem for log canonical pairs is established. The proof relies on vanishing theorems for log canonical varieties and on methods of the minimal model program. In addition, a theory of differential forms on dlt pairs is developed. It is shown that many of the fundamental theorems and techniques known for sheaves of logarithmic differentials on smooth varieties also hold in the dlt setting. Immediate applications include the existence of a pull-back map for reflexive differentials, generalisations of Bogomolov-Sommese type vanishing results, and a positive answer to the Lipman-Zariski conjecture for klt spaces.Comment: 72 pages, 6 figures. A shortened version of this paper has appeared in Publications math\'ematiques de l'IH\'ES. The final publication is available at http://www.springerlink.co