Intellectual property, commercial needs and humanitarian benefits: must there be a conflict?

‘By far the best proof is experience,’ wrote Francis Bacon. Given the experience of countries – both developing and developed – that have used intellectual property (IP), IP protection and IP management to stimulate innovation, there is ample proof that good IP management has benefited multitudes of people around the world with new technologies, products and services. Innovations in health and agriculture have greatly enriched lives. But does this experience apply to all countries? If the best proof is experience, then what can be said authoritatively about the effects of using IP systems wisely in developing countries?