Science and Development Network
News, views and information about science, technology and the developing world
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Definitions
List of terms for Intellectual property
G
Generic Drugs
When a patent on a drug expires, it can be legally produced by any other company. Such copied drugs are known as generic drugs. In countries where the patent has expired or where the drug was never patented, manufacturing and selling a generic drug is legal subject to approval from the national drug regulators. But generic drug manufacturers cannot sell a drug in a country where it is still patent-protected.
Grace period
The length of time following the publication of an original idea in which the author of such an idea can apply for a patent. The United States, for example, allows a grace period of 12 months after publication; in Europe, in contrast, there is no grace period, and as a result a patent application on a new idea must be made before details of that idea are made public (for example through publication in the scientific literature).
