The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) is a trade agreement that, among a number of things, offers longer protection for patents. Malaysia ratified the TPP this year. Critics of the TPP are of the view that it will hinder innovation. Alan Adcock, partner and deputy director of the intellectual property department at Tilleke & Gibbins, was interviewed by Malay Mail Online to discuss these issues, and his comments were included in an online article named “Ideas: Fear of Intellectual Property Rights Insulting to Malaysians.”

Commenting on whether the price of medicines will increase because of the TPP, Alan expressed doubt. He said that encouraging innovation domestically or within the region could help reduce prices so that they are more adaptable to local markets. “For this to happen, Asian governments have to figure out who their innovators are and what are the benefits they are looking for,” Alan said. “For some, they consider money to be a good benefit. For some, it is not.”

Malay Mail Online is an independent online newspaper that covers current events. If you would like to read the full online article, please visit the Malay Mail Online website.