The Effects of Trips-mandated Intellectual Property Rights on Economic Activities in Developing Countries

December 31, 1999, in addition to being the last day of the 20 century, was the deadline for all but the least-developed countries to comply with the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) requirements of the WTO for extending and harmonizing Intellectual Property Rights (IPR). Many countries have complied in full while others are in process in some regards, but virtually all developing countries are asking, what are the economic implications of compliance? Better insights into the positive benefits of enhanced IPR will allow national governments to plan economic policy more effectively, as well as providing a counter to the voices, such as those heard in Seattle in 1999, which are roundly condemning much of the globalization taking place under the WTO process. In the developing countries, strengthened IPR are a particular target of that rhetoric.