We are delighted to welcome Opeyemi Kolawole, who has joined the School of Law and Criminology, Maynooth University and the ALL Institute as a Postdoctoral Researcher on the European Research Council-funded PatentsInHumans project led by Prof Aisling McMahon. This project examines the bioethical implications posed by patents - and how they are licensed – on technologies related to the human body, such as medicines, isolated elements of the body, medical devices etc.
Prior to joining this project, Opeyemi completed his doctoral program at Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin. His research interests intersect intellectual property rights, international trade, and development. His PhD thesis titled “Reimagining the Technology Transfer Obligations in the TRIPS Agreement” explored the effect of international intellectual property (IP) standards on technology transfer to Least Developed Countries (LDCs). This doctoral project was fully funded by an award of the Sutherland School of Law Doctoral Scholarship. In the medium term, Opeyemi is interested in exploring how existing IP norms would respond to new technologies, particularly immersive and assistive technologies. His recent work in this field, includes a co-authored paper with his doctoral thesis supervisor, Dr Cliona Kelly, titled “Artificial Intelligence as an “Inventor” in Patent Law” published in 2021 in the Commercial Law Practitioner. Opeyemi’s research also explores development questions within the World Trade Organisation (WTO) legal framework, particularly the structure and viability of the WTO’s Special and Differential Treatment framework.
Opeyemi obtained his LL.M degree in Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law
(IP/IT) from the Sutherland School of Law, University College Dublin and his LL.B degree from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. In 2015, he was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria. He is also involved in development advocacy in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria.
You can learn more about the project by watching this short video here.
