Is it disagreeing with the OP’s original premise of “lifting the patents doesn’t do anything”, or with my inference of “if lifting the patents doesn’t do anything, then it won’t change future drug company behavior either”? I’m not sure how I’d tell, but I’d presume the more near-term premise of “lifting the patents does(n’t) do anything” would have a bigger effect on immediate stock prices.
I think it’s mostly the setting of a precedent of stripping away intellectual property rights for political expediency that is worrisome. It’s a small step in undermining the rule of law, but a step nonetheless. The symbolic gesture is the problem; it signals to the public that such moves are now not only acceptable, but applaudable.
The stock market disagrees.
Is it disagreeing with the OP’s original premise of “lifting the patents doesn’t do anything”, or with my inference of “if lifting the patents doesn’t do anything, then it won’t change future drug company behavior either”? I’m not sure how I’d tell, but I’d presume the more near-term premise of “lifting the patents does(n’t) do anything” would have a bigger effect on immediate stock prices.
I think it’s mostly the setting of a precedent of stripping away intellectual property rights for political expediency that is worrisome. It’s a small step in undermining the rule of law, but a step nonetheless. The symbolic gesture is the problem; it signals to the public that such moves are now not only acceptable, but applaudable.
They were already acceptable under TRIPS.
It’s the perception that matters.
That’s on impulsive investors who didn’t bother familiarizing themselves with international trade agreements.