Milei, “libertarian” IP fascist?

Cross-posted at PFS Blog

As I noted in Classical Liberals, Libertarians, Anarchists and Others on Intellectual Property, I was initially not clear what Javier Milei’s position on IP is. As I wrote there:

I’ve heard he has read my IP writing. He seems to be skeptical; see this tweet and Yumber Vera Rojas, “A decree by Javier Milei attacks copyright,” Página|12 (June 29, 2025) (“The regulations mean that hotels and party halls do not pay Sadaic … Musicians, managers, and directors of Sadaic oppose the measure, which could be brought to court in the coming days.”); “Milei government deregulates collection of author’s royalties“: “President Javier Milei government orders deregulation of the collection of authorship royalties in Argentina, whose processing was previously obliged to pass through a society for artists but can now be transmitted without intermediation.”

But see:

ARGENTINA VUELVE AL MUNDO. La Resolución Conjunta 1/26 con firma de @Mariolugones_ar, @LuisCaputoAR y @CharlieMGallo, deroga la Conjunta 118/2012 sobre patentes farmacéuticas. Representa una mejora trascendental en el respeto de la propiedad intelectual en nuestro país. Aquella…

— Fede Sturzenegger (@fedesturze) March 18, 2026

Translation:

ARGENTINA RETURNS TO THE WORLD. Joint Resolution 1/26, signed by @Mariolugones_ar, @LuisCaputoAR, and @CharlieMGallo, repeals Joint Resolution 118/2012 on pharmaceutical patents. This represents a transcendental improvement in respect for intellectual property in our country. That resolution, to put it in plain terms, had made it very difficult (if not impossible) to obtain a patent for a medication in Argentina. This was not only an attack on property rights, a fundamental pillar of @JMilei‘s government program, but it also delayed the arrival of innovative therapies to the country.

Private property is the fundamental pillar on which a prosperous and just society is built. President@JMilei has led us to implement policies based on the moral precept of doing “what is right.” Respecting property, including intellectual property, is a direct derivative of respect for freedom and property.

With this repeal, Argentina aligns with international intellectual property standards respected by all our trading partners—including the United States, with which we are advancing an agreement that, as a counterpart to this normalization, opens its entire domestic market to our pharmaceutical industry.

As in any country in the world, starting today the INPI will analyze each patent application on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the law, without additional restrictions that do not exist in any country in the world. It’s also worth a not-insignificant clarification: the repeal applies only from here on out. Pharmaceutical products already on the market will not be affected in any way and may continue to be commercialized without restrictions or compensation.

Thanks to @Mariolugones_ar and his team at @MinSalud_Ar , to @PALavigne83, Coordinating Secretary of Production, and @CharlieMGallo, Director of @INPI_Argentina (also with their respective teams), all from @MinEconomia_Ar of @LuisCaputoAR. At @MinDesreg_Ar, thanks to @alejandrocacace who handles intellectual property issues. VLLC!