ABSTRACT

Thisbook'shistoricalapproachhasmadeseveralimportantthingsclearwhich mightnotbeapparentfromapurelypresent-dayanalysis.First,supportforprivate rightsoverinventions-whethermousetraps,microorganismsormethodsof manufacturingthem-andnewplantvarietieshastradeimplicationswhetherornot weregardsuchIPrightsasbeingsupportiveofliberalizationorprotectionism.Asa consequencetherewillbebothwinnersandlosers.Whetherornotthewinnerswill gainenoughfortheloserstobecompensatedisimpossibletoknowforcertain,but wecanbesurethat,howeverbigthegains,theloserswillnotgetmuchoutofthe bargain,atleastintheshortterm.