This chapter examines the nature and scope of obligations in the Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement. The first sentence of Article 1.1 of the TRIPS Agreement re-states a basic principle of international law: pacta sunt servanda. It makes clear that the obligations imposed by the Agreement are to be given effect by Members within their respective jurisdictions. Neither this article nor any other provision of the Agreement specifies how such obligations are to be implemented. In countries that follow a ‘dualist’ approach to international law, implementing regulations would be needed, as the Agreement would not be recognized as self-executing. In those adopting a ‘monist’ approach, the Agreement may be directly applied by judicial and administrative authorities, at least to the extent that the provisions are clear enough and self-contained. The way in which the Agreement is implemented may have important implications on the conditions for the access to and use of technology, particularly in developing countries, and on their economic and social development. It is crucial, therefore, to clearly identify the options left by the Agreement to implement its provisions in a manner that is as consistent as possible with Members’ interests and strategies.