The BRICS block (comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) are a major force to contend with. For these countries are seen as potential world leaders (if not already). Along with Annalisa Primi, a stellar economist, I co-authored a paper some years ago referring to these countries as “Technologically Proficient Developing Countries” (TPDCs). And hoped that some of these countries would break out of the standard IP script (driven in large part by the developed world) and carve out…