The Perfect Kick-Off

Arundhathi P.S reports from the World Trade Organization

‘Ensuring enforcements of Intellectual Property Rights (PIR) globally with special emphasis on the needs of Least Developed Countries ’-the agenda for this simulation of the World Trade Organization, is indeed a complex one and one that will draw very diverse reactions from a the member nations of the World Trade Organization. The Republic of Pakistan deliberated that even after a decade of the ratification of the TRIPS agreement, many countries failed to enforce the foreign IPR, and that it was the biggest hurdle. The Republic of India pointed out that the least developed countries are forced to act upon the public interest, especially in pharmaceutical and agricultural industries as they are more prone to epidemics and food security problems. It was also added that countries which were less technologically enabled find it very hard to enforce IPR to the extent defined by the western nations. On the other hand, Russia took the stand that internal political corruption and lack of innovation on their part, led no significant incentives for such a country to enforce IPR. Canada put forward the opinion that the involvement of organized crimes too has a hand in this issue. The counterfeit goods flooding the market apparently made it almost impossible for the consumers to distinguish between the authentic goods and the fake ones.

Upon further introducing the topic of ‘Enforcements of IPR on the general welfare and economies of least developed countries ’, The United Kingdom supported the notion that it would always prove to be beneficial for such countries. The UK discussed the example of ‘compulsory licensing’ and how it created long term as well as the short term benefits for the countries. It was further added that the enforcement of IPR could increase the competition within the least developed countries. If a country has received the patent for a particular drug, the other competing companies would try to improve their infrastructure along with R&D thereby creating active competition within the market. This in turn improves the country’s economy. This stand was immediately opposed by the Republic of India who pointed out the fact to the delegate of UK that these are those countries which are unable to meet the basic requirements like education and health care facilities. Expecting them to improve on their research and development along with the pressure of internal competition would be silly and impractical. This was supported by a majority of the countries present.