Professor Duncan Matthews spoke at the American University Washington College of Law conference on IP and Human rights on 21 February 2013. His presentation offered a new framework for analysing the relationship between IP and human rights. The allocation of intellectual property rights has significant economic, social and cultural consequences that can affect the enjoyment of other, fundamental, human rights. Professor Matthew's presentation asked: how can a rights-based discourse on the interface between patents and the right to health be mapped out? Three thematic clusters are suggested under which a rights-based discourse has been important: (1) legislative change; (2) policy change; and (3) judicial interpretation.