Defensive Publishing: A Strategy for Maintaining Intellectual Property as Public Goods

Adams, S., Henson-Apollonio, Victoria. 2002. Defensive Publishing: A Strategy for Maintaining Intellectual Property as Public Goods. International Service for National Agricultural Research

Scientific research generates intellectual property - new knowledge and ideas which, initially at least, belong solely to the creative enterprise which did the research. The effective exploitation of this innovation leads to a range of strategies. The process of ‘defensive publication’ is just one of the approaches which can be used. Defensive publication is one mechanism for disclosing an innovation to the public that allows a researcher to retain the freedom to practice their innovation without fear of being threatened by competitive patents. This paper will consider some of the factors, which make for effective defensive publication, and the strengths and weaknesses of some commonly available mechanisms, with which to achieve a defensive publication.