" Non-exclusive licence" on a drug Patent in public interest proposed in Korea

The Commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office has been approached to adjudicate for the authorization of a non-exclusive licence on the patent right for a new drug used for the treatment of leukemia, in order to enable economically weak patients to purchase the drug at a price lower than the prevailing price. The proposal is based on Article 107 (1) (iii) of the Korean Patent Law Act which provides for the authorization of a non-exclusive licence in cases where working of the patented invention is necessary for a public non-commercial use.