In my view this approach fails to consider the important fact that the scope of IPR policies of rich countries retains significant variations from each other in ways that could affect access of poor countries to new knowledge. This is explained further below, but one example would be the patentability of new plant varieties or computer software. The Components of a Proposed Technology Transfer Index: Background Note 1. Background Revision date: 27 March 2005 1 2. Support for Research and Development 2