Public domain

Public domain (Medicine)

Public domain (pronunciation: /ˈpʌblɪk doʊˈmeɪn/) in the context of medicine refers to the state of medical knowledge, research, and data that are not protected by intellectual property rights and can be freely used by anyone.

Etymology

The term "public domain" originates from the legal concept of the public domain in copyright law, which refers to works that are not protected by copyright and can be freely used by the public. In the context of medicine, it has been extended to refer to medical knowledge and data that are not protected by intellectual property rights.

Related Terms

Open Access: A publishing model that allows the free distribution of research articles and data. Open access is closely related to the concept of the public domain in medicine, as it promotes the free sharing of medical knowledge and data.

Intellectual Property Rights: Legal rights that protect the ownership of ideas, inventions, and creative works. Intellectual property rights can restrict the use of medical knowledge and data, making them the opposite of the public domain.

Copyright: A type of intellectual property right that protects original works of authorship. In the context of medicine, copyright can apply to medical textbooks, research articles, and other written works.

Patent: A type of intellectual property right that protects inventions. In the context of medicine, patents can apply to new drugs, medical devices, and other inventions.

Data Sharing: The practice of making data available to others for use and analysis. Data sharing is a key aspect of the public domain in medicine, as it allows medical knowledge and data to be freely used and built upon.