The current patent system nurtures an addiction to money, power, and control. Companies are awarded patents for basic shapes, naturally occurring genetic materials, and even technologies that have existed in the world for several years already.
The only way for the human race to continue to evolve in all facets of life, are for new desires to be embraced. They are innovation, developments, creativity, and research which are available for expansion by all, resulting in unprecedented choices for the masses. StartsWithXX aims to get the ball rolling by bringing awareness and encouraging conversation about the issue.
The Issue
The race to register Intellectual Property (IP) and to dominate and monopolise development and innovation worldwide is well under way, with thousands of highly questionable patents being awarded every day, across the globe (Technica 2012). The result of this IP battle that is being waged day in – day out, is the stifling of creativity, innovation, and research, with the ultimate loser in every case being the general public.
Recent changes made in patent law (and the abuse of said laws around the world by multinational corporations) have called attention to the fact that the modern patent system is broken, and now exists primarily for economic benefit.
The Solution
The purpose of this campaign is to wake the general population up to the stunting of development in all sectors. As a matter of design, rather than inevitability, the general public is thought of as merely a consumer and nothing more. Dumbed down into a state of brand and company loyalty, the consumer follows the progress of the patent wars caring only for the victory of their commanders, oblivious to the fact that important and even lifesaving developments are being stifled, and in some cases terminated, as a matter of course.
In the hopes of encouraging a critical discussion to develop, a series of playbill posters in conjunction with Twitter will be employed. The playbill posters (sets of three), will be posted in both high transit and existing poster walls, catching the attention of passers-by, and gig-hunters alike. This strategic placing will aim to pique curiosity and interest, rather than demand attention.
Each poster carries a QR code and necessary Twitter tags to direct the viewer to an online discussion, encouraging them to have their say on what things or events they believe creativity/innovation/development #StartsWith. It is this hash tag that not only gives the campaign its name, but also acts as the portal of communication.
Photos by Tammy Law
References
Bushell-Embling, D 2012, Gene Patents Challenged in Court, Australian Life Scientist, viewed 02/08/2012, <http://www.lifescientist.com.au/article/416132/gene_patents_challenged_court/>.
Bushell-Embling, D 2012, Gene Patents Challenged in Court, Australian Life Scientist, viewed 02/08/2012, <http://www.lifescientist.com.au/article/416132/gene_patents_challenged_court/>.
Technica, A 2012, Supreme Court Considers GM Crop PatentCase, Wired.com, viewed 01/08/2012, <http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2012/04/arstechnica-agriculture-patents/>.
WIPO 2004, WIPO Intellectual Property Handbook, The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Geneva, Switzerland viewed 02/08/2012, <http://www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/about-ip/en/iprm
/pdf/ip_handbook.pdf>.
WIPO 2012, International Patent Filings Set New Record in 2011, The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), viewed 02/08/2012, <http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/articles/2012/article_0001.html>.
