Reforming intellectual property rights regimes: challenges for developing countries

Abstract

This paper describes changes to the environment in which developing countries make decisions with respect to IPRs, including changes brought about by the intensification of world trade in technology-dependent goods and services, and changes brought about by the evolution of technologies. It is suggested that innovation has become a more important factor for developing country economies, and that the enhancement of IPRs-related infrastructure has therefore taken on added significance for these economies, IPRs-related infrastructures that are best suited to developing country economies may be different to those that are best suited to industrialized country economies, and the authors offer a number of strategic options for developing countries. International institutions such as the World Bank may play an important role in enhancing the capacity of developing countries to take advantage of innovative activity in the industrialized countries, as well in promoting local innovation. These institutions may play the role of honest broker among countries and groups with different technology-related interests, they may create training programs for technical administrative personnel and judges, they may facilitate improvements in educational institutions that encourage innovative activity, and they may also take a lead role in advanced research on the role of IPRs in international economic development.