Freedom of scientific expression is not a privilege – it is a constitutionally protected right and a foundation for the development of science. We have been following with great interest the concluded (not yet final) case of Prof. Józef Dulak against the Polish Stem Cell Bank. The District Court in Kraków found that public criticism of commercial activity – if based on reliable scientific arguments and conducted as part of expert activity – does not violate personal interests.

In the media discussion on the case, in the material by Nadia Senkowska in the Rzeczpospolita Daily Magazine, Patrycja Rejnowicz -Janowska , Counsel at the Jabłoński Koźmiński & Partners Law Firm, also made an important statement.

Our expert reminded us that freedom of expression—including critical opinions—is guaranteed by both the Constitution of the Republic of Poland and the European Convention on Human Rights. Moreover, as advocate Patrycja Rejnowicz-Janowska noted, suppressing scientific debate through legal actions may constitute an unacceptable “chilling effect.”

This is another example of how important the balance between the protection of personal interests and the right to free—including critical—speech is, especially in an area as delicate as the relationship between science and economic activity.

We encourage you to read the entire material available here.