Intellectual Property Rights

A Staff Research Paper by John Revesz of the Trade and Economic Research Branch analyses intellectual property right issues from both domestic and international perspectives. The main focus of attention is the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) that was introduced in 1995 and is administered by the World Trade Organisation.

The paper analyses the economic implications of TRIPS for Australia. Issues examined in the paper include the proposed Innovation Patent for low level inventions, changes to the copyright protection of databases, cablecasting, digital transmissions and computer software, changes to designs legislation, the prohibition of parallel importing and current TRIPS negotiations on biotechnology and geographical indications. The paper also presents statistical estimates of the intellectual property cost content of Australian production and trade.

The analysis builds on previous research into various economic aspects of intellectual property rights by two of the predecessors of the Productivity Commission - the Industry Commission and the Bureau of Industry Economics.

The paper was prepared as an input into the upcoming legislative review of intellectual property rights.