4 ms·

>there is no global consensus on how long patents should last. Yes there is. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIPS_Agreement https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIPS

• ashwagary 5y ago
  A few countries had an outsized role in deciding these terms like much of the other WTOs rules...through the use of pressure, coercion, and other carrot/stick approaches. If it's not voluntary, I don't consider it global consensus. Joseph Stiglitz makes a similar point... "TRIPs imposed on the entire world the dominant intellectual property regime in the United States and Europe, as it is today. I believe that the way that intellectual property regime has evolved is not good for the United States and the EU; but even more, I believe it is not in the interest of the developing countries."
  • Jiro 5y ago
    You're being deceitful here. Stigler does oppose TRIPS because of its effect on developing countries--because intellectual property protection keeps developing countries from using patented things. In other words, he wants patents to be less restrictive, not, as you're falsely implying, more restrictive.