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surprisingly, America is one of the top substantive copyright reforms. While the
beneficiaries of IP protection in terms of Canadian government extended the term of
economic growth and jobs. IP supports over $6 protection for some copyrighted works, the
trillion in GDP and more than 45 million jobs in Mexican government introduced more substantive
the U.S. alone, according to the U.S. Department reforms to its Federal Law on Copyright. Both
of Commerce. countries’ scores rose substantially this year,
partially as a result of these reforms.
U.S., Europe, and Japan Dominate Top The Index also reflects how countries took steps
10 for IP Protection to strengthen international cooperation on IP
through participation in international treaties. In
European countries and Japan round out the top Egypt, the government acceded to the International
10 countries for IP protection, according to the Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of
report. The United Kingdom (93.90%), Germany Plants act of 1991—helping to raise the country’s
(92.27%), France (91.43%), and Japan (91.12%) score substantially. Likewise, Colombia ratified the
make up the top five. They are followed by Sweden, Convention on Cybercrime in March 2020. The
the Netherlands, Ireland, and Switzerland. Spain country’s score rose 1.77% this year.
claims the 10th spot with a score of 84.68%.
Among the biggest positive improvements China and India Continue to
this year was Mexico (adding 3.87% to reach Consistently Improve IP Protection—
58.25%). Canada (+1.85%), the United Arab With China Notching Biggest
Emirates (+1.54%), and South Korea (+1.53%) Improvement
also saw marked improvements.
Over time, there has been steady improvement in
Trade Agreements Improve Intellectual the national IP environments in China and India
Property Protections as measured by the Index.
In fact, this year, China saw the biggest
The report also reveals an added (and often improvement in the entire report: its score
underappreciated) benefit of trade agreements improved 3.9%. China’s improved score is due in
and international treaties: They often promote and part to new legislation to strengthen its domestic
enhance IP protection. IP framework, as a result of a trade agreement with
According to the report, trade agreements with the United States. These changes, if implemented
strong IP commitments help protect domestic effectively, should improve China’s domestic
creators and inventors, boost rule of law, grow IP regime and build upon the momentum to
the economy, and encourage further investment strengthen domestic IP protection. Compared to
from abroad. 2012, China has improved its score by half—going
For example, as a result of the USMCA trade from 36.52% of the total available score to 54.86%
agreement, both Mexico and Canada introduced in this year’s edition—a growth of 18.34%.
Like China, India has seen the strength of its
national IP environment grow by half, rising
from a score of 24.96% of the total available
score in 2012 to 38.40% in this year’s edition, an
improvement of 13.44%.
IP Drives Economic Growth
Finally, the 2021 Index makes clear that an effective
IP system will be critical to rebuilding healthy
communities, getting citizens back to work, and
reinvigorating the global economy. The report
illustrates that countries with the strongest IP systems
host 10 times more clinical trials, have twice the
innovative output, and are 24% more competitive
than economies with weaker IP frameworks.
SOUTH CHINA BUSINESS JOURNAL 16
beneficiaries of IP protection in terms of Canadian government extended the term of
economic growth and jobs. IP supports over $6 protection for some copyrighted works, the
trillion in GDP and more than 45 million jobs in Mexican government introduced more substantive
the U.S. alone, according to the U.S. Department reforms to its Federal Law on Copyright. Both
of Commerce. countries’ scores rose substantially this year,
partially as a result of these reforms.
U.S., Europe, and Japan Dominate Top The Index also reflects how countries took steps
10 for IP Protection to strengthen international cooperation on IP
through participation in international treaties. In
European countries and Japan round out the top Egypt, the government acceded to the International
10 countries for IP protection, according to the Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of
report. The United Kingdom (93.90%), Germany Plants act of 1991—helping to raise the country’s
(92.27%), France (91.43%), and Japan (91.12%) score substantially. Likewise, Colombia ratified the
make up the top five. They are followed by Sweden, Convention on Cybercrime in March 2020. The
the Netherlands, Ireland, and Switzerland. Spain country’s score rose 1.77% this year.
claims the 10th spot with a score of 84.68%.
Among the biggest positive improvements China and India Continue to
this year was Mexico (adding 3.87% to reach Consistently Improve IP Protection—
58.25%). Canada (+1.85%), the United Arab With China Notching Biggest
Emirates (+1.54%), and South Korea (+1.53%) Improvement
also saw marked improvements.
Over time, there has been steady improvement in
Trade Agreements Improve Intellectual the national IP environments in China and India
Property Protections as measured by the Index.
In fact, this year, China saw the biggest
The report also reveals an added (and often improvement in the entire report: its score
underappreciated) benefit of trade agreements improved 3.9%. China’s improved score is due in
and international treaties: They often promote and part to new legislation to strengthen its domestic
enhance IP protection. IP framework, as a result of a trade agreement with
According to the report, trade agreements with the United States. These changes, if implemented
strong IP commitments help protect domestic effectively, should improve China’s domestic
creators and inventors, boost rule of law, grow IP regime and build upon the momentum to
the economy, and encourage further investment strengthen domestic IP protection. Compared to
from abroad. 2012, China has improved its score by half—going
For example, as a result of the USMCA trade from 36.52% of the total available score to 54.86%
agreement, both Mexico and Canada introduced in this year’s edition—a growth of 18.34%.
Like China, India has seen the strength of its
national IP environment grow by half, rising
from a score of 24.96% of the total available
score in 2012 to 38.40% in this year’s edition, an
improvement of 13.44%.
IP Drives Economic Growth
Finally, the 2021 Index makes clear that an effective
IP system will be critical to rebuilding healthy
communities, getting citizens back to work, and
reinvigorating the global economy. The report
illustrates that countries with the strongest IP systems
host 10 times more clinical trials, have twice the
innovative output, and are 24% more competitive
than economies with weaker IP frameworks.
SOUTH CHINA BUSINESS JOURNAL 16
