In Chile, software designers are exporting hospital management and accounting software to the U.S. and other markets. Strong IP laws are a sign that a country is serious about international business and accepts the legal norms that govern it. Negotiations are underway to improve IP protection worldwide. A pact signed in tandem with the Uruguay Round trade agreement commits nations to upgrade their IP laws to world standards. Less developed countries have up to a decade to finish the job.
Entrenched interests make the job difficult.
In Argentina, for example, pharmaceutical interests have repeatedly thwarted President Menem's efforts to strengthen patent laws. The decisions countries make affect international interests. But of equal importance, they define the protections their own inventors and artists will receive, and determine the degree to which those innovators will unleash their creativity for their own nations' benefit. When there's a broad understanding of those mutual benefits, countries can get on with the job of creating strong laws and building the judicial systems needed to enforce them.