Reforming Intellectual Property brings together 19 of the world’s leading scholars in the field to offer their unique insight into the future of intellectual property. Providing a diverse array of perspectives on the most pressing reforms needed in the current IP regime, whether in terms of legislation at national and international levels, or interpretation of existing law, this exceptional book highlights the key issues in this area and sets out an agenda for future research and policy.

The researchers in this study examine the issue of reforming intellectual property rights systems in developing countries through the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The study is divided into seven main parts that discuss the nature of intellectual property rights and protection needs within the framework of TRIPS' main provisions and goals. The study also reviews the various types of intellectual property rights systems and the costs of implementing different levels of protection. This comes in addition to the benefits and economic effects of protection, as well as general policies related to intellectual property rights. In this study, the researchers sought to analyze - on one hand - the potential costs of intellectual property rights protection over the short term. On the other hand, they tried to analyze the long-term benefits, such as access to foreign direct investment, technology transfer, and growth, that might go down the drain if developing countries resist intellectual property rights protection.

Intellectual property law is built on constitutional foundations and is underpinned by the twin freedoms of freedom of expression and freedom of economic enterprise. In this thoughtful evaluation, Gustavo Ghidini offers up a reconstruction of the core features of each intellectual property paradigm, including patents, copyright, and trademarks, suggesting measures for reform to allow intellectual property to become socially beneficial for all.

This report argues that reforms of the U.S. patent system have suceeded in limiting the competition of ideas, discouraging innovation, and ultimately reducing U.S. competitiveness.