SWBP: Lack of Intellectual Property Rights

SWBP is Solutions for the World's Biggest Problems; a book I'm reading
This 2007 book is edited by Bjorn Lomborg, Director of The Copenhagen Consensus Center. It addresses 23 global issues; Lack of Intellectual Property Rights is chapter 2, authored (and solved) by Keith E. Maskus, University of Colorado. Summary and Commentary:

Gee, I guess it's a good thing I'm adding my own commentary, I think..hmm.

The problem, defined: The ability and willingness of around 150 country's governments to enforce patents, copyrights, trademarks, plant variety rights, certification marks, and geographical indications are almost completely absent, with consequences ranging from 1)the lethal (fake pharmaceuticals) to 2)limiting the ability of entrepeneurs and artists to create and sell new products (In Indonesia, evidence suggests that up to 4-5% of the population find it difficult to escape poverty because of this), to 3) the reluctance of international firms to provide such products as new medicines, vaccines, or agricultural technologies, in the absence of exclusive marketing rights, and finally, to 4) the deterrence of FDI (foreign direct investment) (which may reduce GDP growth by .1-.25 percentage points in larger developing countries).

It's part of the larger problem of a weak regulatory environment, as an indicator of a business climate that discourages innovation and FDI.

Solving this problem would mean better healthcare, more innovation, and job creation. There are two solutions. The cost-benefit analysis indicates that a total cost of 3.5 - 4.1 billion dollars for the first solution would return benefits between 2.4 - 5.2 times greater. And the second solution, at a cost of 6 billion dollars, would return an estimated 9 times the benefit.

What are the solutions?

The first is to improve intellectual property regulations and their enforcement.
The second is to encourage companies in developing economies to protect their own IPR (intellectual property rights) with financial and technical assistance.

The most important aspect of the second solution for the author is to have developing economy students study IPR in industrialized countries. Training 10,000 students would cost $200 million per year, but would return between 8.96-9.17 times the benefit.

Aside: "One person estimates that products developed from traditional knowledge and sold internationally could amount to 50-100 billion dollars a year if suitable marketing and IP protection channels were found."

Development is where the money's at, y'all.

Does all intellectual property emanate from, and therefore belong to, God? No comment.
Glad to be of service, though.

Actually, doesn't someone own the rights to the bible, now that I think about it? Ha. Nuts.