BARBADOS SAYS PATENT TERMS ARE TOO LONG: The Minister with responsibility for Barbados’ foreign trade is calling for a revamp of the legislative framework as it relates to the Patents Act of Barbados, found at Chapter 314 of the Laws of Barbados.

The Honourable Kerrie Symmonds, Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, noted his concern as it relates to the relevance of the said Act, while speaking to the Barbados Advocate recently. Taking issue with the length of time with which a patent could be held by the Holder of such a document which conferred the sole right of that individual to make, use or sell some invention, Symmonds stated that the period of time was too long.

“Under the Act, a Patent can be held for as long as 15 years, with a right accorded to the holder of the Patent for it to be extended by another five years.”

A period of two decades was exceptionally long for one to be able to sit on a piece of intellectual property, he asserted. Waiting such a lengthy period of time before an idea could be improved upon by further innovation would not be of benefit to the economy of our country.

-- I wonder if this may be the next course of action for the "patents hinder innovation" crowd . . .