Introduction

The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is an example of an information clearinghouse that focuses on biological diversity, primarily at the species and specimen levels. Although GBIF does contain some genetic information (especially about cultivars or varieties archived in living stock centres), it does not provide access to any patent data and all the information it provides is freely and openly available to all users. Therefore, GBIF does not provide a very apt model for gene patents. However, GBIF does provide some interesting lessons for how to assemble a distributed network of information.

Background

GBIF is an international organisation designed to make the world's biodiversity data freely and universally available via the Internet, for the benefit of science, society and a sustainable future. It was established in 2001 as a result of deliberations and discussions in the OECD's Global Science Forum.

However, GBIF is a free-standing organisation, not directly linked to the OECD or United Nations. It is based upon a unique Memorandum of Understanding, but has no formal standing in international law.

Inspirational models for the formation of GBIF included the International nucleotide sequence databases (GenBank, EMBL and DDBJ); Mexico's CONABIO (Comisión nacional para el conocimiento y uso de la biodiversidad); Costa Rica's INBio (Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad); and Australia's ERIN (Environmental Resources Information Network). GBIF was able to build upon these pioneering national activities to develop its international approach.