Intellectual property rights, agriculture, and the worl bank; Perspectives from international agricultural research centers; Perspectives from industry; Perspectives from national systems and universities; A model for international owned goods; Summary and implications for the world bank.

The proceedings of a seminar on the impact of plant breeders' rights in developing countries. Includes: the results of a study on plant breeders' rights in five Latin American countries; update of a 1983 study on plant breeders' rights in the U.S.; testing distinctness, uniformity & stability for plant variety protection; farmers' privilege, breeders' exemption & the essentially derived varieties concept; licensing of protected plant varieties -- international practice; possible effects of recent developments in plant-related intellectual property protection in Europe & the U.S.; & intellectual property rights & agriculture -- strategies & policies for developing countries.

Plant breeding patents, the ownership to biological innovation and associated intellectual property rights (IPR), are the subject of increased attention worldwide. They are particularly relevant in the field of agricultural biotechnology. They are affecting public and private sector organisations and companies, and are significant for developing as well as developed countries. These issues have until recently evoked little policy analysis. This book presents the perspectives of policy-makers and economists on such issues and includes discussions of public research and property rights, implications for developing countries, IPR of wild genetic resources and IPR under the Convention of Biological Diversity, among others.

Over the course of history, different legal instruments for protecting intellectual property have emerged. These instruments differ in their subject matter, extent of protection, and field of application, reflecting society's objective to balance the interests of creators and consumers for different types of intellectual works. These legal instruments are just one of the pieces that form a national system of intellectual property protection. Also crucial to the system's overall effectiveness are the institutions administering these instruments, the mechanisms available for enforcing IPRs, and the rules regarding the treatment of non-nationals. To address some of the issues concerning IPRs, this paper defines what they are and attempts to evaluate the relationship between the protection of intellectual property and economic activity in developing countries. It also summarizes the economic effects of IPRs in terms of creation and diffusion of knowledge and information; and market structure and prices. Furthermore, it discusses the reformation of IPRs regimes and makes recommendations for their administration and enforcement. This paper consolidates some of the research from the 'World Development Report 1998/1999: Knowledge for Development' and some contributions made at an Internet-moderated conference conducted by the Bank's TechNet program. It will be of interest to governments, investors, and international organizations.