Public Lecture

Thursday 6 April 2017, 18:00, room EB 206

The incorporation of intellectual property into the multilateral trade system has not proven to bring about the promised benefits. The premises that underpinned the strengthening and expansion of intellectual property through the TRIPS agreement – namely that innovation will be globally boosted– did not match the reality. Despite that the pharmaceutical industry was one of the main proponents of the Agreement, the rate of innovation in this industry has not increased; it has rather declined while developing countries struggle with high prices for medicines and investments in R&D necessary to address their particular health needs continue to be insufficient.

Carlos Correa is Professor of Law and Director of the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies on Industrial Property and Economics Law at the University of Buenos Aires. He is member of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health of the World Health Organization (WHO).