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This paper attempts to build an IPR index based on the World Trade Organization's Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) to study the impact of the Agreement for 53 developing countries. I consult national IPR legislations, various IPR-specific reports, and legal experts and practitioners, whenever possible, to construct the index. Analysis of the data shows three implementation trends. Firstly, almost all developing countries take advantage of the transition period clause of the Agreement (Art. 65), and in some cases exceed the TRIPS implementation deadline for developing countries, 2000. Secondly, implementation efforts of developing countries vary, and not necessarily because of their income levels. Lastly, countries in regional trade agreements (RTAs) that include IPR obligations tend to comply with TRIPS earlier than the rest. The results confirm that the TRIPS agreement leads to a convergence of global IPR protection across countries. It also makes the case that the Agreement's implementation is an external factor, not entirely influenced by the country's level of economic development. This index can be used as a natural experiment to understand how IPR influences economic activities and behaviors. Secondly, implementation efforts of developing countries vary, and not necessarily because of their income levels. Lastly, countries in regional trade agreements (RTAs) that include IPR obligations tend to comply with TRIPS earlier than the rest. The results confirm that the TRIPS agreement leads to a convergence of global IPR protection across countries. It also makes the case that the Agreement's implementation is an external factor, not entirely influenced by the country's level of economic development. This index can be used as a natural experiment to understand how IPR influences economic activities and behaviors.

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