Este trabalho teve o objetivo de analisar retrospectivamente o significado da interseção de dois fenômenos sociomodernos. Em primeiro lugar, a epidemia de HIV/AIDS (Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana/Síndrome de Imunodeficiência Adquirida), com suas características históricas pouco usuais e alta letalidade; e, por outro lado, a intrusão de leis de propriedade intelectual na sociedade, como o Acordo TRIPS (Trade Related Intellectual Property Subjects), com amplas repercussões sobre a saúde pública assim como sobre o desenvolvimento econômico e tecnológico dos países, sendo aqui tratados especificamente os casos de Brasil e México. Ambos os países modificaram suas leis de propiedade intelectual (LPI) para implementar o Acordo TRIPS (e, no caso do México, também o NAFTA) nas últimas duas décadas, levando a patamares mais elevados de proteção de propriedade intelectual no México, quando comparado ao Brasil. Estas mudanças, porém, podem ter contribuído, no caso do México, para um menor rendimento e eficácia do seu programa de combate à epidemia de AIDS/HIV já que, para dar uma cobertura mais adequada de tratamento com medicamentos antirretrovirais (ARVs) para sua população, teve que enfrentar maiores dificuldades para sua aquisição. / This work analyzed retrospectively the meaning of the intersection of two modern social phenomena. Firstly, the epidemic of HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), with its unusual historical characteristics and high lethality; and , on the other hand, the intrusion of intellectual property laws in society as the TRIPS (Trade Related Intellectual Property Subjects) Agreement, that has far-reaching consequences on public health as well as on the economic and technological development of countries, and here we treated specifically the cases of Brazil and Mexico. Both countries changed their intellectual property laws to implement the TRIPS Agreement (and in the case of Mexico also NAFTA) during the last two decades, leading to higher levels of intellectual property protection in Mexico compared to Brazil. However these changes may have contributed in the case of Mexico to a lower performance and effectiveness of its programme to combat the epidemic of HIV/AIDS, since to give a more adequate coverage of treatment with antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for its population, had to face major difficulties for the purchase of these medicines.

Este trabalho teve o objetivo de analisar retrospectivamente o significado da interseção de dois fenômenos sociomodernos. Em primeiro lugar, a epidemia de HIV/AIDS (Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana/Síndrome de Imunodeficiência Adquirida), com suas características históricas pouco usuais e alta letalidade; e, por outro lado, a intrusão de leis de propriedade intelectual na sociedade, como o Acordo TRIPS (Trade Related Intellectual Property Subjects), com amplas repercussões sobre a saúde pública assim como sobre o desenvolvimento econômico e tecnológico dos países, sendo aqui tratados especificamente os casos de Brasil e México. Ambos os países modificaram suas leis de propiedade intelectual (LPI) para implementar o Acordo TRIPS (e, no caso do México, também o NAFTA) nas últimas duas décadas, levando a patamares mais elevados de proteção de propriedade intelectual no México, quando comparado ao Brasil. Estas mudanças, porém, podem ter contribuído, no caso do México, para um menor rendimento e eficácia do seu programa de combate à epidemia de AIDS/HIV já que, para dar uma cobertura mais adequada de tratamento com medicamentos antirretrovirais (ARVs) para sua população, teve que enfrentar maiores dificuldades para sua aquisição. / This work analyzed retrospectively the meaning of the intersection of two modern social phenomena. Firstly, the epidemic of HIV/AIDS (Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome), with its unusual historical characteristics and high lethality; and , on the other hand, the intrusion of intellectual property laws in society as the TRIPS (Trade Related Intellectual Property Subjects) Agreement, that has far-reaching consequences on public health as well as on the economic and technological development of countries, and here we treated specifically the cases of Brazil and Mexico. Both countries changed their intellectual property laws to implement the TRIPS Agreement (and in the case of Mexico also NAFTA) during the last two decades, leading to higher levels of intellectual property protection in Mexico compared to Brazil. However these changes may have contributed in the case of Mexico to a lower performance and effectiveness of its programme to combat the epidemic of HIV/AIDS, since to give a more adequate coverage of treatment with antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for its population, had to face major difficulties for the purchase of these medicines.

A substantial number of employees in South Africa may soon be out of work as the result of their HIV-positive status. The dismissal of an infected employee may be motivated by the fact that he is considered to be incompetent or incapable of doing the work for which he was employed. Customers and fellow employees may refuse to deal with an infected employee, with the result that the employee is dismissed for economic reasons. The nature of the undertaking's activities may be such that the presence of an infected employee constitutes a health risk. For the purposes of carrying out his duty to create and maintain safe working conditions, the employer dismisses the employee. The employer may even force the infected employee to resign. Measures should be taken to improve the situation of infected employees. They include educating employers and employees about the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus. / Mercentile Law / LL. M.

A substantial number of employees in South Africa may soon be out of work as the result of their HIV-positive status. The dismissal of an infected employee may be motivated by the fact that he is considered to be incompetent or incapable of doing the work for which he was employed. Customers and fellow employees may refuse to deal with an infected employee, with the result that the employee is dismissed for economic reasons. The nature of the undertaking's activities may be such that the presence of an infected employee constitutes a health risk. For the purposes of carrying out his duty to create and maintain safe working conditions, the employer dismisses the employee. The employer may even force the infected employee to resign. Measures should be taken to improve the situation of infected employees. They include educating employers and employees about the transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus. / Mercentile Law / LL. M.