International and domestic dynamics of intellectual property protection

I examine the variation in the extent of intellectual property (IP) protection across countries. Combining insights from the ‘old’ and ‘new’ institutional perspectives, I argue that global pressures stemming from commitments to the World Trade Organization influence IP protection, but countries differ in their sensitivity to external pressures due to differences in domestic characteristics. The presence of a domestic interest group positively moderates the relationship between WTO commitment and stronger IP protection while domestic public health concerns negatively moderates this relationship. Data on IP protection for 65 countries during the period 1995–2006 provide support for the hypotheses.