TNCs as players in technology

Question 1

Intellectual property rights

Answer 1

• registering any new technology under patent law
• ^ favours TNCs as they spend money on research and innovation so feel justified in registering new technology as theirs

Question 2

patents developed by pharmaceutical companies

Answer 2

• make many medicines unaffordable to poorer countries
• new treatments for HIV are expensive
• provided widespread barrier to HIV treatment in sub-saharan Africa

Question 3

genetically modified crops

Answer 3

• GM crops controlled by TNCs
• forcing farmers to sign contracts to use only their chemicals, or prevent them from saving seed
• People have to buy new seed every year which benefits TNCs the most