Private Rights and Public Problems: The Global Economics of Intellectual Property in the 21st Century (Peterson Institute for International Economics - Publication)

Intellectual Property Rights (iprs)-patents, Copyrights, And Trademarks-have Moved From An Arcane Area Of Legal Analysis And A Policy Backwater To The Forefront Of Global Economic Policymaking. Apple And Samsung's Patent Battle Illustrates The Importance Of Iprs And How They Impact Everyone. Private Rights And Public Problems Is A Completed Update Of The Seminal, Oft-cited 2000 Study, Intellectual Property Rights In The Global Economy. This New Book Documents The Remarkable Global Changes In Iprs Policies That Have Taken Place Since The Founding Of The World Trade Organization (wto) And Analyzes Both The Benefits And Costs Of The Global Iprs System. Does Stronger Iprs Protection Increase Incentives For Innovation And Raise Returns To International Technology Transfer Or Does It Raise The Cost Of Acquiring New Technology And Products? Have The Changes Benefited Technology Producers Or Technology Consumers? Do These Policies Help Or Hinder The Transfer Of Key Technologies Used To Address Critical Global Public Needs, Such As Essential Medicines, Green Technologies, Bio-engineered Seed Varieties, Products Made From Genetic Resources, And Scientific And Educational Materials? The Book Examines These Issues Through An Analysis Of The Economic Effects Of Extended International Protection And Partial Harmonization Of Iprs. Ultimately, It Argues That The Global Iprs System Stands At A Fundamental Crossroad, Facing More Challenges Than Ever Before. It Makes Several Suggestions For Improving The Efficiency And Fairness Of The Newly Globalized System In The Near Future, If The Political Will Can Be Found. Cover ; Contents; Preface; Foreword; Acknowledgments; Ch 1. Introduction: The Big Stakes In Selling Knowledge; The Ever-elusive Balance; The Policy Landscape; Four Ideas To Improve The Global System Today; Organization Of The Book; Ch 2. The Big Global Upgrade: Is It Working?; How The Situation Has Changed; Intellectual Property Right Reforms And Innovation; Intellectual Property Rights And Technology Transfer; Country Experiences And “catching Upâ€? With Intellectual Property Rights; Summary; Ch 3. Global Governance Trips Finishes Its Test Ridethe World Intellectual Property Organization Does Its Part; When Trips Is Not Enough; A Powerful Pushback; The New Enforcement Emphasis; Summary; Ch 4. Regulating A Stressed System; Cleanup In Aisle Global Patent; The Standards Question; Exhaustion: Your Price Or Mine?; Geography Made Delicious; Digital Dilemmas; Enforcement Economics; Summary; Ch 5. Intellectual Property Rights And Global Policy Challenges; Intellectual Property Rights, Policy Space, And Development Patent Problems And Progress In Public Healthtechnology Transfer And Climate Change; Agriculture And Genetic Resources; Trading In Traditions; Summary; Ch 6. Revitalizing A Tired System; Pressures To Move On; Extending The Long And Strained Trips?; Reaching For Balance Beyond The World Trade Organization; Future Vision; A Final Observation; References; Index Keith Maskus. Includes Bibliographical References And Indexes. Consumers constantly confront intellectual property rights (IPRs) every day, from their morning cup of Starbucks coffee to the Intel chip on their computer at work. Intellectual property rights help protect creative inventions in the form of trademarks, copyrights, and patents. Despite legal protection, many goods--including music and video files--are easily copied or shared, which affects industries, innovators, and customers. In his follow-up to one of the most popular PIIE titles of all time, Keith Maskus looks at the expansion of private legal rights into international trade markets, not only for technological items but also for international public goods like vaccines and prescription drugs. Private Rights and Public Problems assesses IPR issues for users, producers, and innovators and the difficulty of establishing an international policy regime that governs IPRs in all markets. Post-industrial countries have preferential terms for licensing and selling products, in part because they develop more global brands and products. Maskus observes that in these countries the primacy of private property raises contentious international debate between innovation owners in rich countries and followers and users in emerging and poor countries. Maskus explores if increased privacy regulations limit innovation and pose artificial and real barriers, such as decreased information accessibility and increased cost. This book addresses a fundamental issue: should basic scientific and technological knowledge be commoditized? In this guide to the current global impact of IPRs, the author analyzes the economic contribution of IPRs underlying features: innovation and access to international technologies Intellectual property rights (IPRs)—patents, copyrights, and trademarks—have moved from an arcane area of legal analysis and a policy backwater to the forefront of global economic policymaking. Apple and Samsung's recent patent battle illustrates the importance of IPRs and how they impact everyone. Private Rights and Public Problems is a completed update of the seminal, oft-cited 2000 study, Intellectual Property Rights in the Global Economy. This new book documents the remarkable global changes in IPRs policies that have taken place since the founding of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and analyzes both the benefits and costs of the global IPRs system. Does stronger IPRs protection increase incentives for innovation and raise returns to international technology transfer or does it raise the cost of acquiring new technology and products? Have the changes benefited technology producers or technology consumers? Do these policies help or hinder the transfer of key technologies used to address critical global public needs, such as essential medicines, green technologies, bio-engineered seed varieties, products made from genetic resources, and scientific and educational materials? The book examines these issues through an analysis of the economic effects of extended international protection and partial harmonization of IPRs. Ultimately, it argues that the global IPRs system stands at a fundamental crossroad, facing more challenges than ever before. It makes several suggestions for improving the efficiency and fairness of the newly globalized system in the near future, if the political will can be found.