Intellectual Property and Innovation Protection

8Overall Assessment and Conclusion

In terms of innovation, what are the global consequences of the developments analyzed in the last two chapters? To what extent does the system work properly? To make an assessment, we should go beyond the aforementioned works (Chapter 2) that analyzed the effectiveness of intellectual property rights in relation to innovation from a microeconomic perspective. We still need to consider the question of the consequences on innovation processes on the economy and society as a whole. The relevant analyses usually raise two key issues. On one hand, how and to what extent does intellectual property affect innovation and economic growth? On the other hand, what is the impact of patents as mediums for the dissemination of knowledge and, more generally, to what extent does intellectual property represent a key factor for the circulation of knowledge and technology transfer? To leave generalities aside and carry out a more precise analysis, it is in many respects necessary to tackle these issues from a sectorial perspective. This helps us see that, although intellectual property rights affect innovation practices, these practices in turn have an effect on these rights. These mutual interactions lead us to reason in systemic terms, considering intellectual property rights as a component of innovation systems. Finally, this attempt to provide an overall view encourages us to consider, in the name of innovation, if abolishing intellectual property rights ...