Updated
May 07, 2025
Published
May 07, 2025
What happened: The U.S. Chamber recently released the 2025 International IP Index. Now in the 13th edition, the 2025 report benchmarks the IP framework in 55 global economies across 53 unique indicators, offering a roadmap for governments aiming to boost IP-driven innovation and creativity.
The results: The overall score improved in 33 economies, illustrating an increasing recognition of the value of IP protection worldwide. Emerging markets continued to take steps to strengthen IP protection, with notable progress in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait earned the largest improvements in overall score at 17.55%, 11.22%, and 8.87%, respectively.
Catching up on copyright enforcement: Across Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia, economies improved enforcement against IP-infringing content online, building upon positive momentum from recent editions of the report. From Argentina and Brazil to Kuwait and the UAE to the Philippines, governments took steps to more effectively address websites hosting copyright-infringing content.
Challenges remain: While the overall score decreased in only two economies, challenges remain to effectively protecting and enforcing IP rights, including in developed markets.
- In the United States, ongoing drug price negotiations and march-in rights proposals weaken the framework for American life sciences innovation.
- In the EU, the General Pharmaceutical Legislation threatens to undermine existing IP incentives. At a time when biopharmaceutical companies are under tremendous pressure to reshore investment in the United States, the proposed changes could drive investment away from Europe and jeopardize Europe’s competitiveness in the life sciences sector.
Trade policy in the spotlight: The 2025 Index also highlights how the enforcement of outstanding trade-related IP commitments remains essential for strengthening trade and global competitiveness. Fulfilling trade obligations, such as those included in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and China’s Phase One Agreement, will be key to addressing non-tariff barriers to trade that IP-intensive industry face operating worldwide.
The bottom line: The economies that embrace ingenuity and creativity lead the world in ground-breaking life sciences innovation, critical technology development, and creative content production. For these economies to continue to thrive, governments must continue to invest in developing stronger IP standards and enforcement to ensure they can fully leverage the benefits of innovation and creativity. With the Index as their roadmap, policymakers can ensure IP can foster prosperity and growth for all.
About the author
Kelly Anderson
Kelly Anderson serves as vice president of international policy at the U.S. Chamber’s Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC). Anderson oversees the GIPC’s global advocacy efforts and leads the GIPC’s policy engagement in the multilateral organizations and developed economies.
