Intellectual Property Rights and the Doha Round

Abstract

Over the preceding half century, ideas and knowledge have become a progressively important part of world trade. A creative mind is a scarce commodity, to be found only infrequently. Inventions, innovations, high-technology products and processes, and medicines have an intellectual origin and high commercial value, as do works of literature and arts. Their inventors and creators deserve to be compensated for the creative value inherent in these products, processes and creations. They are the intellectual property or assets of the inventors and creators. Logically, ethically and morally they deserve to have a right to negotiate the commercial value of their intellectual assets. International law does not allow unauthorized use of intellectual assets that have significant commercial value.