Intellectual property: How much room is left for industrial policy?

The early industrialization process in developed countries took place under flexible frameworks of intellectual property protection.

Those countries, however, proposed and obtained in trade negotiations the adoption of an international intellectual property regime that expanded and strengthened such protection.

While the role of this regime, especially patents, in promoting innovation is controversial, it may effectively limit the ability of developing countries to implement industrial policies.

These countries can preserve some room to implement such policies by using certain flexibilities, such as applying rigorous standards of patentability and granting compulsory licenses to broaden the space for local production.