Droits de propriété intellectuelle et développement. Quelques repères et analyse préliminaire sur l'économie post-TRIPS

In this paper we analyze the main economic consequences for the developing countries of the existence, the working and the evolution of the patent system in the context of TRIPS. We define the so-called post-TRIPS economy as the new system of international economic relations modified by the strengthening of intellectual property rights (IPR). We provide a survey of theoretical and empirical literature dealing with TRIPS, the evolution of IPR system and the capacity of development. The effects of the strengthening of intellectual property rights on technology transfer are addressed as well.