ABSTRACT
International harmonization of rules and procedures could act to reduce procedural barriers, and the substantial costs, and time lags associated with obtaining foreign rights, thus promoting greater use of the system by all participants. The protection of intellectual property rights, including the way in which such protection is accorded and enforced, is an issue of significant and growing importance in international trade and economic relations. Trade problems are arising as a result of deficiencies in the protection accorded to intellectual property, partially due to inadequacies in the scope and availability of intellectual property rights under national laws, and partially due to the lack of effective procedures and remedies for the enforcement of these rights, where they existed. The protection of manufactural procedures only, where it exists, is not regarded as an adequate substitute, due partially to difficulties in enforcement and partially to the possibility of inventing around the patent.
