This thesis aimed to explore the influence of intellectual property rights (IPRs) protection reform gained from WTO accession on technology diffusion in China. China’s entrance to the WTO in 2001 brought and will continue to bring significant impacts on China’s economic, political and social development. Under pressure from the developed countries, China reformed its IPRs protection in order to accede to the WTO. There was heated debate on whether stronger IPRs protection was beneficial for developing countries’ technological progress. This research investigated the impact of IPRs protection reform arising from WTO accession on technology diffusion in China.
Fieldwork was the main method of this research. Semi-structured interview, self-completion questionnaire, official statistics and other sources such as television programs, interviews with government officials were used to collect data.
The research found that its entrance to the WTO urged China to reform its IPRs protection. IPRs reform had both positive and negative impacts on technology diffusion. The impact of IPRs reform on technology diffusion in China varied in different industries, sizes and legal status of firms. Other relevant policies, such as the “Open Door” policy, economic development policies, research and development (R&D) policies, foreign investment policies, China’s big market and industry development policies also influenced the impact of IPRs on technology diffusion.
The importance of this research was based on the fact that it was the first research on the impact of IPRs reform on technology diffusion in China which disseminated unique and original information. Currently most Chinese policy-makers intend to implement stronger IPRs policy, without a comprehensive knowledge of the disadvantages of IPRs in technology diffusion. This research will help future policy making as it provided information on the limitations of the current IPRs system, which has not been a matter of concern to the Chinese policy-makers so far.
Date of Award | 1 Dec 2009 |
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Original language | English |
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Awarding Institution | |
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Supervisor | Turan Subasat (Supervisor) |
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China’s entrance to WTO, the influence of intellectual property rights protection reform on technology diffusion
Meng, W. (Author). 1 Dec 2009
Student thesis: Doctoral Thesis › PhD