Likewise, these countries should seriously consider whether, at the next meeting of the World Trade Organization, it is in their interest to continue defending the abstract principle of the protection of intellectual property rights or whether it is not more in the interest of the planet and their own to relax this principle in pursuit of greater and more effective security.

Among the countries that are opposing the proposal of India and South Africa to suspend these rights during the pandemic are Mexico and Brazil. Will they continue in their position, ignoring the urgency for them to defeat the pandemic?

A further rejection of a majority proposal in a UN system organization could have devastating effects on the confidence of poorer countries in the UN system. The post-pandemic world may have new geopolitical balances. Should the rich countries be more concerned about this or about the interests of the pharmaceutical companies?

We must leave aside the theoretical problem of the greater or lesser legitimacy of these interests, which in any case can be perfectly well respected and guaranteed with adequate compensation, less costly than the long-term negative effects on the world economy.

The war against the virus throughout the planet must be won, not only a few battles in the rich countries.

This article was co-authored by Galileo Violini.

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WHAT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS ARTICLE:

Likewise, these countries should seriously consider whether, at the next meeting of the World Trade Organization, it is in their interest to continue defending the abstract principle of the protection of intellectual property rights or whether it is not more in the interest of the planet and their own to relax this principle in pursuit of greater and more effective security.
A further rejection of a majority proposal in a UN system organization could have devastating effects on the confidence of poorer countries in the UN system.
We must leave aside the theoretical problem of the greater or lesser legitimacy of these interests, which in any case can be perfectly well respected and guaranteed with adequate compensation, less costly than the long-term negative effects on the world economy.