The importance of ICTs for developing countries

to try to bring them into line with their obligations under the TRIPS agreement. This national process is likely to accelerate the biopiracy phenomenon. With careful and intelligent legal and policy choices, developing countries can try to avoid some of the worse aspects of implementing their TRIPS obligations. But a fundamental rethink and amendment of the multilateral rules is essential if the injustice done to local communities and to indigenous knowledge by biopiracy is to be corrected.