Les analyses des marchés des logiciels ont longtemps été limitées à l'unique confrontation libre-propriétaire ou propriétaire-piratage. Cette thèse fournit à l'opposé une vision originale d'une confrontation articulée entre propriétaire-libre-piratage. L'analyse du marché des logiciels est réalisée premièrement à travers un descriptif économique et technique du produit "logiciel". Cette description est nécessaire pour saisir le comment et le pourquoi de la déclinaison du produit "logiciel" sous trois formes : propriétaire, libre et piraté. L'aspect technique est particulièrement substantiel puisqu'il permet de comprendre parfois l'impossibilité technique de délimiter le piratage informatique. Cette analyse est appuyée ensuite par un descriptif historique de la construction du marché et l'introduction des droits de propriété qui ont été un facteur déterminant pour la transformation des échanges. On identifie par la suite, les principaux acteurs (producteurs et diffuseurs) de ses trois déclinaisons du bien logiciel et leurs modes organisationnels. En parallèle aux entreprises éditrices de logiciel propriétaire et des communautés de logiciel libre (Hackers), une nouvelle catégorie d'acteurs développant du "matériel informatique libre" est identifiée (open hardware). L'accent est mis sur l'enchevêtrement des frontières entre les communautés libres et le groupe des pirates dont la distinction est complexe, puisque certaines pratiques de piratage sont de fait tolérées par le marché. Les pirates sont aussi considérés dans le cadre de cette thèse, selon leurs compétences techniques. Une typologie des pirates est donc proposée, distinguant les "utilisateurs" des "producteurs" de logiciels piratés (pirates passifs et pirates actifs). Notre analyse se poursuit ensuite avec des modélisations mathématiques et économétriques pour défendre la thèse que les trois déclinaisons du bien logiciel s'inter-influencent et que la concurrence sur le marché des logiciels est ternaire. Cette approche est originale en ce qui concerne les logiciels libres, car vu la récente nouveauté du phénomène, peu d'études de quantification ont été réalisé. Un théorème mathématique, largement utilisé en contrôle optimale, est sollicité pour analyser la façon dont les acteurs des logiciels propriétaires tiennent compte à la fois de la présence concurrentielle des logiciels piratés et celle des logiciels libres. Il est montré qu'une stratégie de tolérance du piratage peut servir favorablement le logiciel propriétaire sur le marché pour réduire "l'effet réseau" des logiciels libres et de renforcer l'effet de "lock-in" du propriétaire. Le modèle économétrique soutient également la thèse que la diffusion des logiciels libres impacte celle des logiciels piratés. La construction d'une base de données de pays à différents niveaux de développement, montre que les politiques gouvernementales en faveur des logiciels libres et l'intérêt de population locale pour linux, peuvent réduire les pratiques du piratage. Ce constat varie selon les catégories de pays étudiés (pays développés, émergents, en voie de développement et pauvres). Les résultats du modèle économétrique appuient ceux de la modélisation. / Publishers of proprietary software are confronted both by the onset of piracy practices and free/open software. So far, the obstacles faced by proprietary software have been presented in the literature by means of two distinct approaches :(i) the piracy/proprietary software (illicit competition), or (ii) the open source/proprietary software (licit competition) standpoints. In this thesis we propose an alternative approach of the software market, which focuses on the coexistence of competitive forces piracy practices and open software. The three forces are supported by di_erent actors, to which we add the new one of open hardware that consolidated the position of free software on the market. The new approach distinguishes also between sophisticated active pirates producers and casual passive pirate users. We emphasized that it is di_cult to distinguish between hackers and pirates, as piracy practices are sometimes tolerated by the market. Using an econometric and mathematics model we show the impacts that one in_icts over the other. The mathematical model investigates how changes in the _rm's anti-piracy policya_ect the number of pirates users, given that the free software network size increases if pirates become free software users. The proposed econometric model shows that government policies in favour of open source software and adoption of Linux by individuals tends to decrease software piracy. A majorempirical result concerns the emerging and developing countries where policies in favour of free software can in some speci_c cases reduce piracy.

Evaluation of the components of intellectual capital of the cmpany with focus on human capital and the associated analysis and comparison of the education and development processes in the company. Description of the concept and function of intellectual capital. The distribution of intellectual capital components and the description of the structure oc IC. Theoretical analysis of the relationship of intellectual capital and intellectual property. Description of the current state assessment of intellectual property and intangible assets. Characteristics of methods for evaluation of intellectual capital. The discrepancy between the accounting and valuation standards. The analysis of the possible development of human component of intellectual capital. Implementation of the general human capital assessment firm using the method of allocation weights, interviewed employees and managers, and developing a plan to increase employees' qualification for next year.

I have chosen this topic because of my deep interest in the intellectual property rights and trademark issues especially. I consider trademarks one of the essential parts of the contemporary private law system, although it is very complicated to decide whether it pertains to the commercial law branch or to the civil law. Trademarks have connection to both the branches, but its legal provisions are highly specific and independent. The contemporary popularity of trademarks grows rapidly thanks to its major usability in practical life. Trademarks are irreplaceable, especially when there is a need to distinct between identical or similar goods and services that are offered by different producers or providers and are useful also, when there is a need to represent goods and services on the market. The trademarks can also be licensed, contractually transferred to other legal entity or can be the object of a deposit. The usability of the trademarks can be found also in their use as an immaterial investment in a company. I have chosen the trademarks topic because of its high practicality and because of creativity and originality of this legal branch. This thesis attempts to describe and analyze the trademark issues comprehensively focusing on the present legal regulation of this discipline. The thesis is...

Submitted by Cássia Santos (cassia.bcufg@gmail.com) on 2017-08-04T11:34:46Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Mônica Ribeiro de Paiva - 2016.pdf: 2593231 bytes, checksum: 04ea99c84ddc813b6f363314a47188ab (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-08-07T15:41:54Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Mônica Ribeiro de Paiva - 2016.pdf: 2593231 bytes, checksum: 04ea99c84ddc813b6f363314a47188ab (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-08-07T15:41:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Mônica Ribeiro de Paiva - 2016.pdf: 2593231 bytes, checksum: 04ea99c84ddc813b6f363314a47188ab (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-09-30 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / This study has the objective to analyze aspects relating to intellectual property of biotechnology in order to identify whether it is a monopoly or development for sustainability, starting with case analysis of application for biotechnology patent held by the company Integra. It is intended to also report brief evolutionary history of intellectual property in Brazil and the world; address aspects related to the constitutionalisation of intellectual property rights in Brazil; introduce the concept given by the doctrine to intellectual property; addressing aspects related to biodiversity and sustainability. The problem situation that if you want to answer is: the intellectual property of biotechnology can be considered a monopoly or development to sustainability? The type of research used as the means is the literature. As for the purpose, the research is exploratory. The problem approach is qualitative. For better presentation, the development is divided into chapters. In the first chapter, which takes care of addressing intellectual property in Brazilian law, seeks to report soon evolutionary history of intellectual property in Brazil and worldwide, as well as addressing issues concerning the constitutionalization of intellectual property rights in Brazil. Also in its bulge is intended to present the doctrinal concept of intellectual property. In the second chapter, the objective is to address issues related to biodiversity and sustainability. The third chapter aims to analyze aspects relating to intellectual property of biotechnology, to identify it comes to monopoly or development for sustainability. / Esse estudo tem por objetivo geral analisar aspectos referentes à propriedade intelectual de biotecnologias, visando identificar se trata-se de monopólio ou de desenvolvimento para a sustentabilidade, partindo-se de analise de caso concreto de pedido de patente biotecnológica realizado pela empresa Integra. Pretende-se, ainda, relatar breve histórico evolutivo da propriedade intelectual no Brasil e no mundo; abordar aspectos referentes à constitucionalização dos direitos intelectuais no Brasil; apresentar o conceito dado pela doutrina para propriedade intelectual; abordar aspectos referentes à biodiversidade e sustentabilidade. A situação-problema que se pretende responder é a seguinte: a propriedade intelectual de biotecnologias pode ser considerada um monopólio ou desenvolvimento para a sustentabilidade? O tipo de pesquisa utilizado, quanto aos meios, é a bibliográfica. Já quanto aos fins, a pesquisa é do tipo exploratória. A abordagem do problema é qualitativa. Para melhor apresentação, o desenvolvimento está dividido em capítulos. No primeiro capítulo, que cuida de abordar a propriedade intelectual no direito brasileiro, busca-se relatar breve histórico evolutivo da propriedade intelectual no Brasil e no mundo, bem como abordar aspectos referentes à constitucionalização dos direitos intelectuais no Brasil. Também em seu bojo se pretende apresentar o conceito doutrinário de propriedade intelectual. No segundo capítulo, objetiva-se abordar aspectos referentes à biodiversidade e sustentabilidade. No terceiro capítulo, propõe-se analisar aspectos referentes à propriedade intelectual de biotecnologias, visando identificar se trata de monopólio ou de desenvolvimento para a sustentabilidade.

A promoção da inovação tecnológica é um desafio para o aumento da competitividade da indústria brasileira. O setor de tecnologias da informação e comunicação (TICs) é um importante celeiro de novas tecnologias e suas criações intelectuais são passíveis de proteção pelas normas de propriedade industrial (e.g. patentes), direitos autorais (e.g. software) e segredo de negócio ou industrial. No Brasil, o setor de TICs, anteriormente designado setor de informática, obteve tratamento prioritário nos programas governamentais de incentivo ao desenvolvimento tecnológico nacional. Contudo, as empresas brasileiras de TICs ainda não são consideradas inovadoras em comparação à concorrência estrangeira. A Lei nº 10.973/2004, também conhecida como Lei de Inovação, dispõe sobre instrumentos jurídicos para a articulação de interesses do setor privado e das Instituições Científicas e Tecnológicas (ICTs) que são órgãos e entidades da administração pública com a missão de executar atividades de pesquisas básica e aplicada, seja de caráter científico ou com a finalidade de desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias. A hipótese de pesquisa desta dissertação é de que os acordos celebrados entre as ICTs e o setor privado estão concentrados nos objetos da transferência de tecnologia ou no licenciamento de uso de criações desenvolvidas pela ICT, que limitados ao regime do direito público, não são eficazes para promoção da inovação tecnológica no setor de TICs. Esta dissertação propõe: (i) analisar o arcabouço normativo do Sistema Nacional da Inovação Tecnológica; (ii) analisar os programas governamentais de estímulo ao desenvolvimento tecnológico do setor de informática brasileiro; (iii) examinar o papel da proteção da propriedade intelectual do software na promoção da inovação tecnológica; (iv) investigar as deficiências na articulação dos interesses de ICT e setor privado, conforme os instrumentos jurídicos previstos na Lei de Inovação; e (v) sugerir proposições para contornar os problemas identificados. Utilizou-se uma metodologia segmentada no estudo normativo das leis aplicáveis ao Sistema Nacional da Inovação Tecnológica e à proteção da propriedade intelectual do software e na análise dos arranjos jurídicos enunciados na Lei de Inovação, a partir dos resultados da Pesquisa de Inovação Tecnológica do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (PINTEC 2008/IBGE) e das informações das ICTs, consolidadas pelo Ministério de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (MCTI) e pelos próprios Núcleos de Inovação Tecnológica (NITs) das ICTs selecionadas nesta pesquisa (sendo elas, USP, UNICAMP, UFMG e UFRJ) cujos dados disponíveis apresentaram semelhança entre si. Concluiu-se com a comprovação da hipótese de que os instrumentos jurídicos utilizados por ICT e empresários são ineficazes para promoção da inovação tecnológica no setor de TICs. Por fim, destacou-se o conhecimento como o desafio para promover o processo inovador no setor brasileiro de TICs. Dentro do propósito do aproveitamento do conhecimento acumulado nas ICTs, a ampliação do conceito de ICT para incorporar as instituições privadas, como previsto nos Projetos de Lei do Código Nacional de Ciência Tecnologia e Inovação nº 2.177/2011 e nº 619/2011 em tramitação no Congresso Nacional, assim como a participação de capital privado na reformulação da figura da sociedade de propósito específico, prevista no art. 5º da Lei de Inovação, são possíveis soluções para contornar os problemas identificados nesta dissertação. / The promotion of technological innovation is a challenge for the increase of competitiveness of the Brazilian industry. The information and communication technologies (ICT) industry is an important source of new technologies and its intellectual creations may be protected under industrial property rights (e.g. patents), copyrights (e.g. software) and trade secret or industry secret laws. In Brazil the ICT industry, previously known as the computer industry, received a priority treatment in the national governmental incentive programs for the development of technology. However, Brazilian ICT companies are not considered innovative in comparison with their foreign competitors. The Brazilian Law #10,973/2004, also known as Brazilian Innovation Law, establishes legal means for the orchestration of interests of the private sector and those of Scientific and Technological Institutions (STIs), which are agencies and public entities whose dedicated to basic and applied research, whether having scientific purpose or aiming at the creation of new technologies. This research hypothesis is that the agreements entered by the STIs and the private sector aim technology transfers or the license of use of the STIs creations and those agreement governed by public law are not effective for the promotion of technological innovation in the ICT industry. This study proposes to: (i) review the legal framework of the National System of Innovation; (ii) analyze the governmental programs created to stimulate the technological development of the Brazilian computer industry; (iii) review the role of the intellectual property protection of software for the promotion of technological innovation; (iv) inquire the deficiencies in the articulation of the interests of STI and private sector according to the agreements provided on the Brazilian Innovation Law and (v) suggest alternatives to overcome the identified problems. A segmented methodology was used in the exam of the laws applicable to the National System of Innovation and the laws of intellectual property protection of the software and the analysis of the agreements entered under the Brazilian Innovation Law provisions, considering the results of the Research of Technological Innovation of the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (PINTEC 2008/IBGE) and the STIs consolidated information by the Ministério de Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação (MCTI) and also with the Centers of Innovation Technology (NITs) of the STIs studied in this masters dissertation (which are, USP, UNICAMP, UFMG and UFRJ) whose available data were similar. The studys conclusion confirms the hypothesis that the agreements entered by STIs and private companies are ineffective to stimulate the technological innovation in the ICT industry. Lastly the knowledge was highlighted as a challenge to promote the innovative process in the Brazilian ICT sector. Within the purpose of using the STIs accumulated knowledge, expanding the concept of STIs to incorporate private institutions, as provided into the Legislative Bill of the National Code of Science and Technological Innovation #2,177/2011 and #619/2011 in discussion in the National Congress, as well as the participation of private capital in reformulating the concept of the special purpose vehicle provided under Article 5 of Brazilian Innovation Law are possible solutions to overcome the problems identified in this study.

O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar os efeitos do uso da marca pelo titular ou por terceiros sob a ótica da integridade. O uso da marca traz consequências negativas ao próprio signo no que tange à sua integridade material, causando o desgaste da sua distinção entre marcas de concorrentes, o que faz diminuir a distância distintiva entre os sinais de uma mesma atividade econômica ou afins. Além disso, o uso da marca também pode causar a perda completa de sua unicidade, corpo distintivo da marca, chegando, às vezes, à vulgarização da mesma, tornando-se res communis omnium. Do outro lado, a integridade material da marca pode passar por processos positivos que fortalecem o seu corpo distintivo. O uso da marca com sucesso faz aumentar sua fama perante o mercado e consumidores, diferenciando-a das demais e sendo alçada ao posto de marca famosa. A fama através do uso impulsiona marcas ordinárias ao status de marcas notoriamente conhecidas ou marcas de alto renome. Ambas representam degraus superiores de integridade material em relação às marcas que são ordinariamente protegidas dentro de suas atividades comerciais. Além disso, apesar do direito de uso exclusivo oferecido às marcas registradas, tal direito não é absoluto. Ou seja, mesmo ocorrendo usos desautorizados de marcas de terceiros que ocasionem alterações na integridade material das mesmas, há usos considerados permitidos pela legislação e jurisprudência. Dessa forma, pretende-se demonstrar que o uso da marca é o fio condutor desses fenômenos. / This paper aims to analyze the effects of the use of the trademark by the owner or by third parties from the perspective of the integrity. The use of the trademark brings negative consequences to the sign itself with respect to its material integrity, causing lack of its distinctiveness among competing marks, which slims the distinctive distance between the signs of the same or related economic field. Furthermore, the use of the trademark can also cause the complete loss of its uniqueness, distinctive body of the mark, reaching sometimes the vulgarization of the same, becoming res communis omnium. On the other hand, the material integrity of the mark can undergo positive processes that enhance its distinctive body. The successful use of the mark increases its fame before the market and consumers, differentiating it from others and being raised to a level of a famous mark. The fame through use elevates the ordinary marks to the status of well-known marks or trademarks of high repute. Both represent upper rungs of material integrity towards marks that are ordinarily protected within their fields of activities. Moreover, despite the right of exclusive use offered to registered marks, such right is not absolute. That is, even occurring unauthorized uses of trademarks by third parties which cause changes in the material integrity of the same, there are uses considered permitted by law and jurisprudence. Thus, this paper intends to demonstrate that the use of the mark is the common thread of these phenomena.

Hardware trojans pose a serious threat to trusted computing. However, hardware trojan detection methods are both numerous and onerous, making hardware trojan detection a difficult and time-consuming procedure. This thesis introduces the IP Assurance Framework, which drastically improves the time it takes design teams to test for hardware trojans. The IP Assurance Framework is implemented in two ways: The first method, Physical Assurance, compares instantiated IP blocks to a golden model via physical-level comparisons, while the second method, Functional Assurance, compares IP to a golden model using logical-level comparisons. Both methods are demonstrated to distinguish between tampered and untampered IP blocks, with a tolerable effect on IP timing and area.

abstract: The biohacker movement is an important and modern form of activism. This study broadly examines how positive-activist-oriented biohackers emerge, organize, and respond to social crises. Despite growing public awareness, few studies have examined biohacking's influence on prevailing notions of organizing and medicine in-context. Therefore, this study examines biohacking in the context of the 2016 EpiPen price-gouging crisis, and explores how biohackers communicatively attempted to constitute counter-narratives and counter-logics about medical access and price through do-it-yourself (DIY) medical device alternatives. Discourse tracing and critical case study analysis are useful methodological frameworks for mapping the historical discursive and material logics that led to the EpiPen pricing crisis, including the medicalization of allergy, the advancement of drug-device combination technologies, and role of public health policy, and pharmaceutical marketing tactics. Findings suggest two new interpretations for how non-traditional forms of organizing facilitate new modes of resistance in times of institutional crisis. First, the study considers the concept of "pop-up maktivism" to conceptualize activism as a type of connective activity rather than collective organizing. Second, findings illustrate how activities such as participation and co-production can function as meaningful forms of institutional resistance within dominant discourses. This study proposes “mirrored materiality” to describe how biohackers deploy certain dominant logics to contest others. Lastly, implications for contributions to the conceptual frameworks of biopower, sociomateriality, and alternative organizing are discussed. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Communication 2019

A cana-de-açúcar é a cultura mais importante na formação do Brasil que conhecemos: presente desde o surgimento da Colônia Portuguesa até os dias atuais, foi protagonista da agroindústria brasileira em diversos momentos da história. Nesse ínterim papel fundamental tem a cana-de-açúcar, que é o vegetal de onde se originam os subprodutos da cana o açúcar, o etanol e, mais recentemente, a energia elétrica de biomassa. Como tantas outras culturas, a cana-de-açúcar teve uma diversificação de espécies com o fim de combater pragas, doenças, adaptação a diversos climas e solos, tempo de produção, aumento de sua eficiência, adequação às novas técnicas de cultivo, e muitas dessas alterações (a maçante maioria, sejamos sinceros) são fruto de pesquisas que fizeram surgir diversas espécies transgênicas, que reúnem características específicas com o fim de atender a necessidades dos produtores. A cana-de-açúcar, bem como todas as outras cultivares transgênicas hoje existentes no Brasil, são protegidas pela Lei de Proteção de Cultivares (LPC) Lei n. 9.456, de 25 de abril de 1997, lei esta feita com base nos termos propostos pelo Tratado da UPOV, em sua versão de 1978, união da qual o Brasil passou a fazer parte após a elaboração da referida lei. A LPC, contudo, trouxe em seu texto uma exceção à cana-de-açúcar, que não recebe o mesmo tratamento que as outras cultivares no país, mas sim um tratamento superior, que institui um super regime de proteção à cultivar da cana-de-açúcar, não se aplicando ao seu regime de proteção as exceções cabíveis a todas as outras cultivares, inclusive as exceções tratadas no texto da UPOV 1978. O presente trabalho discorre sobre o regime de propriedade intelectual da cana-de-açúcar no país, e aborda desde a introdução das primeiras espécies de cana no país, trazidas pelos colonizadores, e sua influência na lavoura, economia e cultura do Brasil, até os dias atuais, com a análise da evolução histórica tanto da cultivar em si, como de sua regulação pelo Estado brasileiro, inclusive pelos órgãos especializados criados ao longo da história para cuidar da cultura e comercialização da cana-de-açúcar. É feita ainda análise da legislação atual que rege a proteção à tecnologia da cana-de-açúcar no país, a Lei de Proteção de Cultivares, com breve histórico de sua elaboração, e suas determinações frente ao texto da UPOV 1978. Também são abordados aspectos relacionados ao impacto desse regime especial no mercado de cultivar no país, e eventuais efeitos desse regime, principalmente relacionados à concorrência e ao eventual abuso de direito. Com isso, pretende-se estabelecer quais são os parâmetros que efetivamente regem a proteção às cultivares transgênicas de cana-de-açúcar, e seus aspectos que extrapolam ou não os limites legais impostos pelo ordenamento jurídico nacional. / Sugarcane is the most important farming in the formation of Brazil as we know: it is found in the country since the emerging of the Portuguese Colony until nowadays, and played main role in the agribusiness in several moments of history. We main point out then that the plant of sugarcane itself has essential part in this farming, because from it comes the products derived of sugarcane sugar, sugarcane alcohol and, more recently, biomass electric energy. As many other cultures, sugarcane had a diversification of species along time in order to prevent plagues, plant diseases, to adapt to different climate and soil conditions, timing of production, increase of efficiency, to fit to new planting techniques, and many of these changes (the great majority, sincerely) are product of research that allowed the creation of several transgenic species, which gather specific characteristics aiming to fulfill the needs of producers. Sugarcane, as the other transgenic plants existing in Brazil, found themselves under the protection of the Cultivar Protection Law (CPL) Law n. 9.456, dated April 25, 1997, law based on the terms of UPOV 1978 Treaty, Union of which Brazil is part nowadays under such terms. CPL, nevertheless, conferred an exception to some of its terms to sugarcane, which do not get the same treatment as the other transgenic plants in the country, but has a superior regimen, which confers a super protection to sugarcane transgenic plants, to which do not apply the exceptions that affect all other transgenic plants, including the exceptions contained in UPOV 1978. This paper aims to discuss the regimen of intellectual property of sugarcane in Brazil, and examines since the introduction of first species of sugarcane in the country, brought by the Portuguese, and its influence in the farming, economy and culture in Brazil, until nowadays, examining the historical evolution of the plant itself, as well as of its regulation by the Brazilian State, including the specialized organs created through time to regulate the farming and commercialization of sugarcane. It is also made an analysis of laws and acts which regulate the protection of sugarcane technology in the country, the Cultivar Protection Law, with a brief examination of historical conditions and law making process of the CPL, and its directives considered from a UPOV 1978 point of view. Aspects related to the impact of such regulation in the market of sugarcane in Brazil are evaluated as well, including eventual effects of law dispositions, mostly related to antitrust aspects and abuse of rights. Therefore, it aims to stablish the parameters that effectively regulate the protection of transgenic sugarcane in Brazil, and the aspects that go beyond or do not the limits imposed by the Brazilian legal system.

This thesis examines the application of international law to the uses of agricultural crop plants termed plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. In particular, it asks the question, does international law regulate the use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture so as to enable equity among nations in accessing these resources and sharing the benefits which arise from them? In answering this question this thesis will also consider several related issues which have arisen in the course of the international debate on this topic. These resources are closely entwined with the lives and livelihoods of certain categories of peoples such as indigenous peoples and farmers and local communities. In addition, they are critical for the economies, agricultural systems and food security of nations. The thesis question will not be considered in the abstract, but will rather be placed against the background of these issues, which will be continuously used to put the legal discourse into perspective. The legal analysis will focus on five international agreements which directly or indirectly regulate the use of crop plants. These five agreements are placed in two broad categories, i.e. environmental/conservation agreements and trade and property related agreements. The first category includes the Convention on Biological Diversity of 1992 and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of 2001. The second category includes the Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants of 1991, the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights of 1994, and several treaties of the World Intellectual Property Organisation. In addition, since the topic raises issues of rights, certain human rights treaties and documents will also be used in the analysis. The current international conflict over plant genetic resources can be condensed into one of rights, human rights and property rights. The international treaties cited above have all contextualized the issue within a framework of property rights, setting out mechanisms for different forms of legal control of these resources. This thesis will argue that whatever the form and nature of such property rights, they cannot achieve equity in the use of crop plants. Rather the use of such rights results in violations of human rights.