Is TRIPS suffering from Big Giant’s Syndrome: Good Economics versus Self Interest?

Abstract

The paper discusses TRIPS as a protection measure on knowledge and new technologies through property rights and analyses the Southern concern if protection of new technologies by means of TRIPS may mean that South can no longer imitate the North in implementing emerging technologies and concepts as was the case with Newly Industrialized Countries of Asia in 1980s. The paper shows that trade and research and development trends are highly skewed in favor of the North and this means that in any such international economic landscape, TRIPS may advantage the North and restrict the South from trading under a technologically aligned level playing field