Over the past few years, intellectual property rights (IPRs) have become a major economic, trade and investment issue, as illustrated by considerable increases in royalty payments and licensing fees in most areas of the world and the inclusion of intellectual property (IP) provisions in regional and bilateral trade and investment agreements. The present Guide has been prepared by the UNCTAD secretariat as part of its technical assistance activities in the area of IPRs and the promotion of pharmaceutical production and supply capacities in developing countries. It will be an important tool for training activities for stakeholders from selected developing countries, in an effort to build capacities for the creation of domestic legal frameworks conducive to the promotion of pharmaceutical production and supply capacities.