Intellectual property policies are necessary to make the changes in current squo discrimination.

In various countries, including the United States, many small businesses are run by women.1 In developing countries, such as Ghana, these female entrepreneurs sell a range of items, from arts and crafts to cell phones. The “market women” hustle to sell their fruits, vegetables, and other wares to support their children and families. Many of these women are not aware of how intellectual property (IP) laws can help them gain strategic advantages in the marketplace. They may not, for example, develop their brand by using trademarks to distinguish their businesses from those of competitors. They may also be unaware that their innovations and creative works may be protected by copyrights or patents. IP rights can help these female entrepreneurs to increase economic opportunities and to promote their human development.2 Women, especially those who are elderly or who are the sole adult income earner in their household, are more likely to live in poverty.3 IP laws can be used as a tool for promoting human flourishing and human development if entrepreneurial women can better use IP rights to advance and promote their small enterprises.

Intellectual property is relevant to human development in the United States and other industrialized countries. However, the potential for IP law to promote human development in developing countries is even greater. This is because the use of IP rights is much more limited in those nations. This article will, therefore, discuss the use of IP law to promote the human flourishing of female entrepreneurs and “market women” in developing countries.