The impact of TRIPs on UNDP information technology programmes and ICT diffusion in Latin America: Policy alternatives for sustainability

Recent policy from multilateral organizations has encouraged the diffusion and use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for development purposes. Concurrently, developing countries have committed to greatly enhancing protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs) to the standards embodied in the WTO Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property agreement (TRIPS) This study analyzes United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) ICT-for-development policy, the effects of enhanced IPRs on diffusion of ICTs in Latin America and on their potential to contribute to broad-based development, and the applicability of dependency theory in predicting these relationships. The study finds TRIPs' implementation in Latin America will inhibit success of UNDP policies and Latin American countries' ability to access ICTs for development purposes, leading them further into a state of technological dependency. The study recommends modifications to UNDP ICT-for-development policy, including support to efforts to modify TRIPS and to fostering alternatives to proprietary ICTs, such as open-source software.