What does the WTO agreement known as TRIPS protect in international trade?

The WTO agreement known as TRIPS protects intellectual property in international trade. Its full name is the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights.

TRIPS sets minimum standards for protecting copyrights, patents, trademarks, geographical indications, industrial designs and trade secrets. It was negotiated during the Uruguay Round and took effect when the World Trade Organization was established in 1995.

TRIPS does not create a single worldwide patent or copyright office. Instead, it requires WTO members to maintain specified legal protections while leaving many details to national law. The agreement is also associated with debates over access to medicines, because patent rules can affect the production and sale of generic drugs.