Biography

John Barton ’68 has devoted his academic career to the examination of questions at the intersection of science and the law. A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Professor Barton has focused his scholarship on international law concerns ranging from national defense to issues surrounding the distribution of intellectual property across the developed and undeveloped world. His current work involves the study of the transfer of technologies, including vaccine, steel, and technologies for mitigating climate change between scientifically sophisticated and developing nations, and the development of a political theory of international organization and globalization.

Professor Barton has chaired or been a member of more than a dozen academic and international advisory commissions, most recently heading up the International Commission on Intellectual Property Rights. Before joining the Stanford Law School faculty in 1969, Professor Barton was an engineer with Sylvania Electronic Defense Laboratories.

Professor Barton is also a Senior Fellow (by courtesy) at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.

Key Works

• John H. Barton. With E. Emanuel. The Patents-Based Pharmaceutical Development Process: Rationale, Problems, and Potential Reforms, 294 Journal of the American Medical Association 2075 (2005).
• John H. Barton, The Evolution Of The Trade Regime: Politics, Law And Economics Of The GATT and The WTO, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2006. (with Judith L. Goldstein, Timothy E. Josling and Richard H. Steinberg)
• John H. Barton, Antitrust Treatment of Oligopolies with Mutually Blocking Patent Portfolios, 69 Antitrust Law Journal 851-882 (Winter 2002).
• John H. Barton, The Economics of TRIPs: International Trade in Information-Intensive Products, 33 George Washington International Law Review 473-501 (2001).
• John H. Barton, The Politics of Peace: An Evaluation of Arms Control, Stanford. CA: Stanford University Press, 1981. 257 pages.

In the News

• Experts Discuss The Role Of IP In Environmental Technology Transfer
  Intellectual Property Watch, August 29, 2008
• Credits May Not Reduce Emissions
  The Stanford Daily, May 30, 2008

Courses & Programs

Courses

• Biotechnology Law & Policy
• International Organization Reform Seminar

Programs

• Center for Law and the Biosciences, George E. Osborne Professor of Law, Emeritus
• Environmental and Natural Resources Law & Policy Program (ENRLP), George E. Osborne Professor of Law, Emeritus
• Stanford Program in Law, Science & Technology, George E. Osborne Professor of Law, Emeritus

Publications & Cases

Recent Publications View All

• John H. Barton, New Trends in Technology Transfer, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development Intellectual Property and Sustainable Development Series, Issue Paper, No. 18 (2007).
• John H. Barton, Expert Paper Series Six: Knowledge, Stockholm: Secretariat of the International Task Force on Global Public Goods, 2006.
• John H. Barton, Emerging Patent Issues in Genomic Diagnostics, 24 Nature Biotechnology 939 (2006).
• John H. Barton. With E. Emanuel. The Patents-Based Pharmaceutical Development Process: Rationale, Problems, and Potential Reforms, 294 Journal of the American Medical Association 2075 (2005).
• John H. Barton, The Evolution Of The Trade Regime: Politics, Law And Economics Of The GATT and The WTO, Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 2006. (with Judith L. Goldstein, Timothy E. Josling and Richard H. Steinberg)
• Gregory K. Sobolski, John H. Barton and Ezekiel J. Emanuel, Technology Licensing: Lessons from the US Experience, 294 Journal of the American Medical Association 3137 (2005).
• John H. Barton, Issues Posed by a World Patent System, in International Public Goods and Transfer Technology Under A Globalized Intellectual Property Regime, Keith E. Maskus and Jerome H. Reichman, eds., New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005.
• John H. Barton, Issues Posed by a World Patent System, 7 Journal of International Economic Law 341-357 (2004).
• John H. Barton, The International Video Industry: Principles for Vertical Agreements and Integration, 22 Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal 67-105 (2004).
• John H. Barton, TRIPS and the Global Pharmaceutical Market, 23 Health Affairs 146-154 (2004).

Affiliations & Honors

Professional Affiliations

• Former Chair (1994-1996), National Genetic Resources Advisory Council
• Member, National Academy Panel on Intellectual Property Rights
• Member, National Academy Panel on Genetic Diversity
• Member, National Institutes of Health Working Group on Research Tools
• Member, NAFTA dispute settlement panels with Canada and Mexico
• Member, International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources Commission on Environmental Law

Honors and Awards

• Recipient, John Bingham Hurlbut Award for Excellence in Teaching, Stanford, 1980