Intellectual Property can be seen with ease around us. Intellectual Property refers to “non-physical
property that is the product of original thought” and protects ideas “by
protecting rights to produce and control physical instantiations of those ideas" (Moore 2011, no.pg). With acceleration
of innovation of technology and its competition between companies, issues of Intellectual
Property are occurring. For instance,
Apple has sued Samsung Electronics, claiming of infringement of patent, in
2007, the latter created a phone with several elements of iPhone’s design
(Rebeiro 2012, no.pg).
Problems happen not only among developed states, but also between developed and developing
states. For example, Trade-Related Aspects ofIntellectual Property (TRIPS) was criticised over limited access to HIV/AIDS
medication in South Africa due to the medication’s patent (Halbert 2005,
no.pg).
The problem of the former
example could be that Intellectual Property is not effectively working to
motivate corporations to make products that contain originality and creativity. The latter example may be contributing to make
underdeveloped countries in disadvantaged positions. In other words, it may seem that Intellectual
Property and TRITS were established in agenda of protection of strong positions of powerful states in the world.
Rights to ideas sound every individual’s equal rights in
the world regardless of their nationality, ethnicity and political
systems. However, Intellectual Property
seems to be involved in North-South conflict and contributing to escalation of
difference between developed and developing countries.
References:
Halbert, D 2005, ‘Globalized Resistance to Intellectual
Property’, retrieved 5 August, 2012,
Moore, A 2011, ‘Intellectual Property’, retrieved 5
August 2012,
Ribeiro, J 2012, ‘Apple asks court to sanction Samsung by
ordering in its favor’, retrieved 5 August 2012,
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