There have been extraordinary changes in intellectual property (commonly referred to as IP) law and policy over the last 20 years, many as the result of their intersection with international trade and the numerous international trade agreements brought into force during this period. The increase in cross-border exchanges of goods, services, capital and knowledge is one reason for this shift; structural changes in all economies — with knowledge emerging as society’s most important tradable economic asset — are another. Underlying this activity are changes to intellectual property rights laws and policies.
