Master of Arts / Department of Economics / Yang M. Chang / This paper studies economic factors that affect a multinational’s decision between serving a foreign market via foreign direct investment (FDI) and setting up a joint venture (JV) with a local firm in the host country. The factors that we consider include the substitutability of products produced by competing firms, as well as the hotly debated intellectual property rights (IPRs) protection. In a simple North-South framework, we show that JV is the equilibrium market structure when the degree of R&D spillover is moderate, products are considerably substitutable, and IPRs strong. The government of South needs to maintain a minimum level of IRP to encourage an effective JV. For increasing social welfare, the South also needs to have a policy that limits foreign ownership in a JV.

Since the 1990s, South Korea has enthusiastically developed and applied digital technologies to every sector of economic and social life, and constructed the most intensively connected society in the world. This thesis explores the impact of Digital Korea on the country s cultural industries, focussing particularly on the main audio-visual industries of broadcasting and film. While the push to digitalise Korea has been enthusiastically pursued by successive national governments with the aim of ensuring that Korea maintains its status as a key world economy as the leading edge of capitalism shifts from an industrial to an information base, to fully understand the forms it has taken and its impacts national initiatives have to be placed in the wider context of shifts in the global trading system. With the rise of neo-liberalism across the globe and the perceived ineffectiveness of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in extending multi-lateral trade, both emerging and developed economies have increasingly embraced Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). In line with this trend, South Korea has signed FTAs with the USA, the European Union (EU) and The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). This thesis explores the interplay between national initiatives and global trade through a detailed case study of the US-led FTA with South Korea (KORUS-FTA) focusing particularly on its implications for the Audiovisual Sector and the accompanying, and pivotal, debates around Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). The KORUS FTA simultaneously opened the Korean market to American audiovisual content and strengthened existing national IPR laws to match the provisions prevailing within the US. Both these moves were opposed within Korea on the grounds that they operated unequally, to the advantage of the US and the detriment of national production that had, in recent years, enjoyed considerable success in export markets, creating what came to be known as the Korean Wave . In addition utilising the extensive corpus of available public documentation the analysis presented here draws on two original research exercises: in depth interviews with experts in international trade and intellectual property rights, conducted in South Korea, the UK and Switzerland (in Geneva, at the WTO Forum 2008), and a web-based survey of a cross section of professionals working in the Korean broadcasting industry. The results obtained show that while Korean economists followed the government in arguing that signing the FTA with the US was essential if Korea was to remain a major player in the global economy, a majority of those working in the audiovisual sector believed that the terms of the agreement, particularly the imposition of US-style IPR laws, disproportionately favoured US interests and would weaken the strong position the sector had achieved in recent years and impede its future growth.

The tremendous spreading of multimedia via Internet motivates the watermarking as a new promising technology for copyright protection. This work is concerned with the design and development of novel algorithms in the spatial and transform domains for robust and secure watermarking of coloured images. These algorithms are adaptive, content-dependent and compatible with the Human Visual System (HVS). The host channels have the ability to host a large information payload. Furthermore, it has enough capacity to accept multiple watermarks. Abstract This work achieves several contributions in the area of coloured images watermarking. The most challenging problem is to get a robust algorithm that can overcome geometric attacks, which is solved in this work. Also, the search for a very secure algorithm has been achieved via using double secret keys. In addition, the problem of multiple claims of ownership is solved here using an unusual approach. Furthermore, this work differentiates between terms, which are usually confusing the researchers and lead to misunderstanding in most of the previous algorithms. One of the drawbacks in most of the previous algorithms is that the watermark consists of a small numbers of bits without strict meaning. This work overcomes this weakness III in using meaningful images and text with large amounts of data. Contrary to what is found in literature, this work shows that the green-channel is better than the blue-channel to host the watermarks. A more general and comprehensive test bed besides a broad band of performance evaluation is used to fairly judge the algorithms.

‘Additive’ goods and services are defined as those that improve with use. They are not naturally rival, or even non-rival, but are “anti-rival.” Information is an example. Information can be made excludable through the use of patents and copyrights, however this does not necessarily lead to socially optimal production and allocation. A more flexible, open access, and decentralized process for the production and allocation of information could improve social welfare. This dissertation describes the challenges and problems with privatizing and restricting access to information and reviews alternative mechanisms for its allocation. Two particular issues at opposite ends of the access spectrum are: (1) strict barriers to private industry databases and (2) quality perception and control of open access information. The first chapter discusses our current system of producing and distributing information and potential ways to stimulate the transition to a new regime. This paper concludes that some of the ideas to seed such a transition include: (1) redefining wellbeing metrics; (2) ensuring the wellbeing of populations during the transition; (3) reducing complexity and increase resilience within institutions; (4) expanding the “commons sector”; and (4) using the internet to remove communication barriers and improve democracy. The second chapter discusses our current system of determining which information to produce, which resources to allocate towards the production of information, and how to distribute that information once produced. The paper concludes that alternative incentive methods, both inside and outside of the market, of producing information and new methods for distributing it to those that can make best use of it, would improve social welfare. These include: (1) prizes; (2) non-monetary incentives; (3) capping salaries; (4) research consortium; and (5) publicly funded research. Chapter 3 explores the difficulty in determining basic energy information under the current proprietary information system using an analysis of the energy return on investment (EROI) of wind energy. It utilizes a meta-analysis of the energy return on investment (EROI) to obtain basic information about the energy inputs and outputs necessary for the manufacturing, installing, operating, and decommissioning of wind turbines. This analysis shows an average EROI for all studies (operational and conceptual) of 25.2 (n=114; std. dev.=22.3). It concludes that making information proprietary severely limits the accuracy of EROI estimates and increases the difficulty of making the best social choices. Chapter 4 explores the perceived credibility of web-based information using an experiment with Encyclopedia Britannica, Wikipedia, and the Encyclopedia of Earth. Compared to Encyclopedia Britannica, both Encyclopedia of Earth and Wikipedia were found to provide a statistically negative perception of credibility. The other factors analyzed (presence or absence of an author, references, a biased sponsor, or an award) contribute to “brand equity” a composite characteristic that takes significant time to develop. The relatively new Encyclopedia of Earth has not yet developed enough brand recognition to affect credibility one-way or the other, but its positive characteristics should help build the brand and credibility over time.

Um politische Ziele wie Wirtschaftswachstum, geringe Arbeitslosigkeit und langfristige internationale Wettbewerbsfähigkeit zu erreichen, wird die Förderung der nationalen Innovationstätigkeit als ein zentrales Element für erfolgreiche Wirtschaftspolitik angesehen. Diese Dissertation trägt zu der Diskussion über den Einfluss von regulativen und finanziellen Politikinstrumenten auf unternehmerische Entscheidungen bei, indem die Effekte von spezifischen Politikinstrumenten auf die individuelle Innovationstätigkeit und das Kooperationsverhalten analysiert werden. Es werden dabei die Effekte dreier Politikinstrumente – intellektuelle Eigentumsrechte, Innovationswettbewerbe und Subventionen – mit Hilfe von Laborexperimenten in einem neuen experimentellen Design untersucht, das im Kern eine Scrabble-ähnliche Wort-Suchaufgabe beinhaltet. Auf diese Weise können die individuellen Reaktionen auf die institutionellen Parameter im Rahmen eines sequentiellen Innovationsprozesses simuliert werden. Die Ergebnisse des ersten Experiments bezüglich intellektueller Eigentumsrechte zeigen, dass diese einen negativen Effekt auf das Auftreten sequentieller Innovationen haben. Die Wohlfahrt sinkt durch das Vorhandensein von intellektuellen Eigentumsrechten signifikant um 20 bis 30 Prozent, da eine geringere Anzahl und weniger wertvolle Innovationen erstellt werden. Im zweiten Experiment werden die Effekte von Innovationswettbewerben untersucht. Im Ergebnis sinkt in beiden untersuchten Wettbewerben die Kooperationsbereitschaft, jedoch haben Innovationswettbewerbe weder Einfluss auf die Kooperationsneigung der Individuen noch auf die gesamte Innovationsaktivität. Das dritte Experiment analysiert die Effekte von Subventionen auf das Innovationsverhalten und auf die Kooperationstätigkeit. Im Ergebnis zeigt sich ein substantielles Crowding-Out von privaten Investitionen und – je nach Subventionsart – keine positiven, bzw. sogar negative Effekte auf die Wohlfahrt. Im abschließenden Kapitel wird die aktuelle Literatur zur experimentellen Innovationsforschung zusammengefasst und ihre Vor- und Nachteile diskutiert. Insgesamt wird für eine pragmatische Nutzung von Laborexperimenten plädiert, um die Ergebnisse etablierter Methoden in der Innovationsforschung durch diesen methodischen Ansatz zu bereichern.

A presente tese de doutorado tem como objetivo a análise da interface entre propriedade intelectual e direito da concorrência no contexto do enquadramento jurídico oferecido pelo Acordo sobre Aspectos de Direitos de Propriedade Intelectual Relacionados ao Comércio Acordo TRIPS da Organização Mundial do Comércio OMC. As disposições relevantes sobre concorrência foram incluídas no Artigo 8.2, que autoriza os Membros a adotarem medidas apropriadas para evitar abusos dos direitos de propriedade intelectual e práticas que restrinjam o comércio e a transferência internacional de tecnologia; no Artigo 40, que dispõe sobre o controle das práticas restritivas em acordos de licenciamento; e no Artigo 31(k), que trata do licenciamento compulsório de patentes para remediar práticas anticoncorrenciais. Essas disposições acabaram sendo incluídas no Acordo TRIPS como resultado de concessões feitas pelos países desenvolvidos aos países em desenvolvimento, em troca do fortalecimento dos padrões mínimos de proteção dos direitos de propriedade intelectual, podendo, portanto, ser consideradas no contexto das flexibilidades constantes no Acordo. No entanto, ainda que essas disposições representem um elemento essencial de equilíbrio, também deixaram importantes questões sem resposta. Além de serem vagas, não fornecem diretrizes adequadas para os países em desenvolvimento implementarem políticas públicas nacionais para coibir práticas restritivas da concorrência relacionadas à exploração de direitos de propriedade intelectual. Assim, enquanto os países mais industrializados possuem autoridades antitruste e tribunais com sólida experiência e recursos necessários para lidar com questões envolvendo a interface entre propriedade intelectual e direito da concorrência, os países em desenvolvimento, em sua maioria, mesmo possuindo leis antitruste nacionais, ainda não adquiriram a experiência e capacitação para tratar de tema tão complexo. Desse modo, a tese deverá abordar as circunstâncias nas quais eventuais abusos de direitos de propriedade intelectual podem restringir a livre concorrência nos mercados, com ênfase nas práticas restritivas em acordos de licenciamento, pools de patentes e licenças cruzadas, bem como nas condutas unilaterais de exclusão relacionadas à exploração desses direitos. Para tanto, propõe-se a interpretação dos dispositivos do TRIPS sobre concorrência a partir da experiência prática das autoridades antitruste e tribunais dos Estados Unidos e da União Europeia. Será também abordada a relação entre propriedade intelectual e direito da concorrência no contexto do ordenamento jurídico-constitucional brasileiro, especialmente a partir da Lei n.º 12.529/2011, nova lei antitruste que altera e define o Sistema Brasileiro de Defesa da Concorrência (SBDC), e de casos recentes julgados pelo Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (CADE). Ao final, serão analisadas as possíveis abordagens que poderiam ser adotadas pelos países em desenvolvimento na implementação de políticas de concorrência nacionais, que sejam eficazes e compatíveis com o Acordo TRIPS, de modo a contribuir com eventuais discussões futuras sobre o tema em foros internacionais. / The purpose of this thesis is to assess the interface between intellectual property and competition law in light of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights TRIPS Agreement of the World Trade Organization WTO. The provisions regarding competition were included in Article 8.2, which authorizes the Members to adopt appropriated measures to prevent abuses of intellectual property rights by right holders or practices which restrain trade and international transfer of technology; in the Article 40, which deals with the control of anti-competitive practices in contractual licenses; and Article 31(k), which deals with the compulsory licensing of patents to remedy a practice considered to be anti-competitive. These provisions were included in the TRIPS Agreement as a result of concessions made by the developed countries to the developed countries, in exchange for the strengthening of the minimal standards for the protection of intellectual property rights. Therefore, these provisions can be considered within the context of the flexibilities set forth in the Agreement. However, even if such provisions represent an essential element of balance, they also left important issues unanswered. Besides being vague, they do not provide adequate guidance for emerging countries to implement national public policies to prevent restrictive practices related with the exploitation of intellectual property rights. As a consequence, whereas the most industrialized countries already have antitrust authorities and courts with strong experience and the necessary resources to deal with issues related with the interface between intellectual property and competition law, most of the emerging countries, even those which have national antitrust laws, have not yet acquired experience and technical capacity to deal with such a complex matter. Thus, the thesis should tackle the circumstances in which possible abuses of intellectual property rights might restrain competition, especially with regard to restrictive practices in licensing agreements, cross-licenses and patent pools, and unilateral exclusionary abuses related with the exploitation of such rights. In this sense, it is proposed to interpret the provisions of TRIPS on competition from the practical experience of the antitrust authorities and courts of the United States and the European Union. We should also tackle the relationship between intellectual property and competition laws in the ambit of the Brazilian legal and constitutional system, especially with regard to Law No. 12.529/2011, the new Brazilian antitrust law, which alters and defines the Brazilian Defense of Competition System SBDC (Sistema Brasileiro de Defesa da Concorrência SBCD), as well as with regard to recent cases judged by the Administrative Counsel of Economic Defense CADE (Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica CADE). Finally, it will be examined possible approaches that could be adopted by developing countries in implementing national competition policies, effective and compatible with the TRIPS Agreement, so as to contribute to future discussions on the issue in international fora.

O mercado de flores e plantas ornamentais segue tendências internacionais de moda e decoração e por isso precisa estar em constante inovação. No Brasil, a inovação em plantas foi influenciada pela Lei de Proteção de Cultivares (LPC) que trata do reconhecimento da propriedade intelectual sobre novas variedades vegetais. A lei brasileira contemplou a prática de uso próprio que tem origem na tradição dos agricultores em guardar grãos de uma safra para serem utilizados como sementes na safra seguinte, com o intuito de garantir a segurança alimentar e a viabilidade econômica dos pequenos produtores. No entanto, a floricultura apresenta uma dinâmica diferente das culturas alimentícias, em que não existe a preocupação com a segurança alimentar. Alega-se que em decorrência da maneira como o dispositivo de uso próprio está estabelecido na lei, ele não assegura a proteção eficaz das espécies de plantas propagadas vegetativamente como é o caso da maioria das flores de corte. Este trabalho analisa o impacto da LPC na cadeia de flores de corte brasileira no sentido de contribuir para o entendimento das relações entre o ambiente institucional no qual esta cadeia se insere e o desenvolvimento da mesma. Tal análise baseia-se na abordagem teórica da Nova Economia Institucional, especialmente na linha que considera o papel dos direitos de propriedade e das instituições na organização e desempenho dos mercados. O método de pesquisa contempla entrevistas semi-estruturadas com melhoristas, produtores e distribuidores de flores e também examina os números da proteção de cultivares de três gêneros de flores de corte: rosa, gérbera e alstroemeria. Constatou-se que a implantação da LPC no Brasil significou o reconhecimento da propriedade intelectual em melhoramento vegetal e por isso foi determinante para a entrada de empresas de melhoramento no país. Por sua vez, a introdução por essas empresas, de novas cultivares de flores está modernizando a floricultura brasileira, em termos de diversidade, qualidade e atualização das variedades. No entanto, o dispositivo de uso próprio conforme sugerido pela hipótese 1 impede a concretização ampla dos benefícios que uma legislação de proteção de cultivares pode promover. Por conta da maneira como tal dispositivo está estabelecido, a alocação dos direitos de propriedade não está claramente definida na LPC. Desta forma, criam-se custos de transação em função da necessidade da concepção de estruturas de monitoramento e de contratos, que possibilitem melhor apropriação dos direitos de propriedade pelos melhoristas. Verificou-se que há casos em que os acordos entre as partes têm papel mais importante do que a legislação no disciplinamento do mercado. Os produtores que não cumprem os contratos celebrados com os melhoristas são excluídos do acesso às variedades modernas. A maneira como o uso próprio está estabelecido pode ainda limitar o nível de investimento dos melhoristas no Brasil bem como o atendimento aos pequenos produtores familiares em função da insegurança que o dispositivo confere aos melhoristas. Observou-se também que a apropriação dos direitos de propriedade por meio de um título de proteção nem sempre é viável, por conta do tamanho do mercado de algumas variedades de certos gêneros de flores. Posto de outra forma, a menor procura pela proteção de certas variedades justifica-se pela baixa demanda por essas flores, ao contrário do que havia sido aventado na hipótese 2, de que o uso próprio afetaria as flores de maneira diferente em função de suas diferentes características biológicas. Ou seja, foi demonstrado que para buscar a apropriação dos direitos, na forma de um título, os melhoristas precisam reconhecer valor neste título. As conclusões expostas ao final do estudo mostram a importância do aperfeiçoamento da legislação no sentido de garantir o nível apropriado de proteção às flores propagadas vegetativamente. Esta pesquisa visa oferecer contribuições empíricas para esse propósito. / The flower market usually follows international fashion and design trends, which brings a need for constant innovation. In Brazil, innovation in plants benefited from the Variety Protection Act (Lei de Proteção de Cultivares, LPC), which recognized intellectual property rights over new plant varieties. The Brazilian act observes the farmers privilege which covers the agricultural tradition of farmers saving part of their harvest for the seeding or propagation of the next crop. This custom arose as a means of ensuring future harvests and thus safeguarding the financial situation of small family farms. However, the flower market has a different dynamic from food crops, where there is no concern about food safety. It is alleged that the manner which the farmers privilege provision is settled in the Act does not ensure true protection for asexually propagated species, as is the case of most cut flowers. This work analyzes the impacts of LPC implementation on the Brazilian cut flower chain with the aim to contribute to the understanding of the relations between the institutional environment in which this chain is inserted and its development thereof. Such analysis is based upon the theoretical approach of the New Institutional Economics; it is focused mainly in the role of property rights and institutions in the markets organization and performance. The research methodology adopts semi-structured interviews with flower breeders, flowers growers and flowers wholesalers and also examines three cut flower genera grants of protection: rose, gerbera (Transvaal daisy) and alstroemeria (Peruvian lily). It was found that the Acts implementation in Brazil meant the recognition of intellectual property in plant breeding and therefore it was crucial to the entrance of breeding companies in the country. In turn, the introduction of new plant varieties by these companies, is modernizing the Brazilian flower market in terms of varieties range, quality and availability of up to date varieties. However, as suggested by hypothesis 1, the farmers privilege provision prevent the widely achievement of the benefits that a plant variety protection regime can promote. According to the way this provision is settled, the property rights allocation is not clearly defined at the LPC, in this way, transaction costs are created due to the need of designing monitoring structures and contracts, which provide breeders better property rights appropriation. It was verified that there are cases where agreements between the parties play a more important role than the law in disciplining the market. The growers who do not fulfill the contracts are excluded from access to modern varieties. Besides, the way the farmers privilege is settled, may also limit the breeders investment level in Brazil as well serving small family farmers due to the lack of credibility caused by this provision .It was also noted that the property rights appropriation by means of a protection title is not always feasible concerning the market size of several varieties from certain flowers genera. In other words, the lower demand for the protection of some varieties is explained by the lower demand of the market, refuting what was supposed in the hypothesis 2 that the farmers privilege would affect the flowers in different manners according to its biological different characters. Thus, it was demonstrated that to use a protection title as a tool to seek property rights appropriation, breeders need to recognize value on it. Conclusions demonstrate the importance of legislation improvement in the sense to guarantee the asexually propagated flowers protection appropriated level. This research aims to provide contributions to this propose.

The subject of the conflict of laws and arbitration in intellectual property rights is a complicated topic to research, because the normal rules of private international law and arbitration can be affected by the special characteristics of patents and trademarks. Some rules of these subjects might need to be reformed and in some cases there are principles that should be created to successfully handle cross-border disputes concerning patents and trademarks. Establishment of a special court with supranational jurisdiction may be required to resolve these types of disputes. Recently, this subject has been given enormous attention around the world. While the academics, legislators and forums in developed states have broadly discussed the subject of conflict of laws and arbitration in intellectual property rights, in Saudi Arabia, it has not been given noticeable attention. This thesis intends to make a significant contribution to Saudi law and provide appropriate approaches on the subject of conflict of laws and arbitration in intellectual property rights. The topics which will be covered in this thesis are the rules of international jurisdiction, the rules of choice of law, the rules for enforcement of foreign judgments and the rules of arbitration. The modification and the enhancement of the rules of private international law and arbitration established in Saudi law will be recommended and the arguments for each suggested approach will be presented.

Les analyses des marchés des logiciels ont longtemps été limitées à l'unique confrontation libre-propriétaire ou propriétaire-piratage. Cette thèse fournit à l'opposé une vision originale d'une confrontation articulée entre propriétaire-libre-piratage. L'analyse du marché des logiciels est réalisée premièrement à travers un descriptif économique et technique du produit "logiciel". Cette description est nécessaire pour saisir le comment et le pourquoi de la déclinaison du produit "logiciel" sous trois formes : propriétaire, libre et piraté. L'aspect technique est particulièrement substantiel puisqu'il permet de comprendre parfois l'impossibilité technique de délimiter le piratage informatique. Cette analyse est appuyée ensuite par un descriptif historique de la construction du marché et l'introduction des droits de propriété qui ont été un facteur déterminant pour la transformation des échanges. On identifie par la suite, les principaux acteurs (producteurs et diffuseurs) de ses trois déclinaisons du bien logiciel et leurs modes organisationnels. En parallèle aux entreprises éditrices de logiciel propriétaire et des communautés de logiciel libre (Hackers), une nouvelle catégorie d'acteurs développant du "matériel informatique libre" est identifiée (open hardware). L'accent est mis sur l'enchevêtrement des frontières entre les communautés libres et le groupe des pirates dont la distinction est complexe, puisque certaines pratiques de piratage sont de fait tolérées par le marché. Les pirates sont aussi considérés dans le cadre de cette thèse, selon leurs compétences techniques. Une typologie des pirates est donc proposée, distinguant les "utilisateurs" des "producteurs" de logiciels piratés (pirates passifs et pirates actifs). Notre analyse se poursuit ensuite avec des modélisations mathématiques et économétriques pour défendre la thèse que les trois déclinaisons du bien logiciel s'inter-influencent et que la concurrence sur le marché des logiciels est ternaire. Cette approche est originale en ce qui concerne les logiciels libres, car vu la récente nouveauté du phénomène, peu d'études de quantification ont été réalisé. Un théorème mathématique, largement utilisé en contrôle optimale, est sollicité pour analyser la façon dont les acteurs des logiciels propriétaires tiennent compte à la fois de la présence concurrentielle des logiciels piratés et celle des logiciels libres. Il est montré qu'une stratégie de tolérance du piratage peut servir favorablement le logiciel propriétaire sur le marché pour réduire "l'effet réseau" des logiciels libres et de renforcer l'effet de "lock-in" du propriétaire. Le modèle économétrique soutient également la thèse que la diffusion des logiciels libres impacte celle des logiciels piratés. La construction d'une base de données de pays à différents niveaux de développement, montre que les politiques gouvernementales en faveur des logiciels libres et l'intérêt de population locale pour linux, peuvent réduire les pratiques du piratage. Ce constat varie selon les catégories de pays étudiés (pays développés, émergents, en voie de développement et pauvres). Les résultats du modèle économétrique appuient ceux de la modélisation. / Publishers of proprietary software are confronted both by the onset of piracy practices and free/open software. So far, the obstacles faced by proprietary software have been presented in the literature by means of two distinct approaches :(i) the piracy/proprietary software (illicit competition), or (ii) the open source/proprietary software (licit competition) standpoints. In this thesis we propose an alternative approach of the software market, which focuses on the coexistence of competitive forces piracy practices and open software. The three forces are supported by di_erent actors, to which we add the new one of open hardware that consolidated the position of free software on the market. The new approach distinguishes also between sophisticated active pirates producers and casual passive pirate users. We emphasized that it is di_cult to distinguish between hackers and pirates, as piracy practices are sometimes tolerated by the market. Using an econometric and mathematics model we show the impacts that one in_icts over the other. The mathematical model investigates how changes in the _rm's anti-piracy policya_ect the number of pirates users, given that the free software network size increases if pirates become free software users. The proposed econometric model shows that government policies in favour of open source software and adoption of Linux by individuals tends to decrease software piracy. A majorempirical result concerns the emerging and developing countries where policies in favour of free software can in some speci_c cases reduce piracy.

This thesis examines the application of international law to the uses of agricultural crop plants termed plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. In particular, it asks the question, does international law regulate the use of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture so as to enable equity among nations in accessing these resources and sharing the benefits which arise from them? In answering this question this thesis will also consider several related issues which have arisen in the course of the international debate on this topic. These resources are closely entwined with the lives and livelihoods of certain categories of peoples such as indigenous peoples and farmers and local communities. In addition, they are critical for the economies, agricultural systems and food security of nations. The thesis question will not be considered in the abstract, but will rather be placed against the background of these issues, which will be continuously used to put the legal discourse into perspective. The legal analysis will focus on five international agreements which directly or indirectly regulate the use of crop plants. These five agreements are placed in two broad categories, i.e. environmental/conservation agreements and trade and property related agreements. The first category includes the Convention on Biological Diversity of 1992 and the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of 2001. The second category includes the Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants of 1991, the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights of 1994, and several treaties of the World Intellectual Property Organisation. In addition, since the topic raises issues of rights, certain human rights treaties and documents will also be used in the analysis. The current international conflict over plant genetic resources can be condensed into one of rights, human rights and property rights. The international treaties cited above have all contextualized the issue within a framework of property rights, setting out mechanisms for different forms of legal control of these resources. This thesis will argue that whatever the form and nature of such property rights, they cannot achieve equity in the use of crop plants. Rather the use of such rights results in violations of human rights.