Patent rights, developing countries and the economic influence of the multilateral trading system[L'influence économique du système de commerce multilatéral sur l'évolution du droit des brevets dans les pays en voie de développement]

This dissertation examines the possible influence of the multilateral trading system on the evolution of patent rights in developing countries during the period from 1990 to 2005 and associated developments with respect to international economic flows and domestic innovation in those countries. The relationships are assessed primarily using regression analysis techniques, which permit discernment of association but not causality. A variety of data, aggregate at the national level, are employed covering a broad sample of countries including developing countries, least developed countries and, for comparison, OECD countries. The main contribution of the dissertation is to identify and relevant insights from existing theoretical work and to test empirically a set of hypotheses concerning a positive relationship of international influences on patent reform in developing countries and a positive relationship of that reform to certain economic developments. Chapter one finds support for the hypothesis that international intellectual property rights reforms, operating in combination with industrial interests, have significantly influenced the evolution of patent rights institutions in developing countries during the study period. Chapter two presents evidence of a positive relationship between patent right reforms and selected international economic indicators including imports and foreign direct investment. Chapter three finds support for the hypothesis that patent rights reforms were positively associated with certain innovation-related indicators during the study period.