Why the name TRIPS PLUS ULTRA?
Why TRIPS PLUS ULTRA? What does it mean? To understand it, let´s describe each of the words that comprise this name we have given to this proposal.
- TRIPS.
TRIPS is the acronym for the international agreement of Intellectual Property created by the World Trade Organization, as you know, more than 20 years ago. We want to change this agreement, its article 33, in order to implement an equitable burden sharing system, in which each country contributes in accordance to its wealth to promote new technologies as introduced here.
- PLUS.
PLUS means more in Latin, as in many other languages. It also describes, when used together with the acronym TRIPS, as in “TRIPS PLUS”, the international push for more and stronger protection of Intellectual Property. TRIPS PLUS is a name given by the academia in Europe and the US to denounce this. The bad guys in this narrative are their governments, the US and Europe, because the US and Europe tend impose their points of view (which many times coincide) to the rest of the world. These and other developed countries usually give more and stronger Intellectual Property within their borders, especially the US, because they truly believe this is the path for global development, especially the US (although, there is a trend towards even diminish protection within their own boarder). Due to the strong leadership of the US and Europe, little by little, free trade agreement by free trade agreement, the law of the land in most countries is becoming TRIPS PLUS.
But TRIPS PLUS is not welcome in the developing world. Neither TRIPS nor TRIPS PLUS distributes the weight of the burden of innovation properly. The answer may be as simple as to change that.
3. ULTRA.
ULTRA, finally, means beyond in Latin. Together with “plus”, as in “PLUS ULTRA”, it means further beyond. It is Spain´s national motto (it sometimes refers to America, since Columbus´ arrival meant there was something further beyond the “known world”; it has been adopted by many other persons and institutions).
TRIPS PLUS ULTRA will basically reset the TRIPS and make it a more just, effective and efficient model. It will go beyond! This equitable burden sharing system could change everything.