When TRIPS came into effect, many member states had to change their intellectual property laws. Additionally, any states joining the WTO had to comply with TRIPS, which prompted many other countries to change their intellectual property laws. Most developing countries were given a longer time period to come into compliance with TRIPS than was required for developed countries, but for many developing countries that time period has recently ended. One of these countries is India. Enforcing patents on HIV/AIDS drugs fairly reimburses the pharmaceutical companies for their work in research and development and helps patients by ensuring innovations in the form of new medications.
1. What are the issues and conclusion of this essay?
2. What ethical norms drive the author's reasoning?
3. Ask and answer the critical thinking question that you believe reveals the main problem with the author's reasoning.
4. Write an essay about this issue with a different conclusion.
Clue: What alternate definitions of the primary ethical norm might change the conclusion?