During the second half of the 20th century, the IP system’s development and sophistication really took off on both the international and national front. The second half of the 20th century was particularly important in Europe. In 1957, the conclusion of the Treaty of Rome paved the way to a process of European integration, whose main objective was the creation of an internal market within which the free movement of persons, goods, services, and capitals would be guaranteed. Intellectual Property (IP) and the progressive harmonisation of the main Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) throughout the Member States of what is now the European Union (‘EU’) has also been functional to the building of an internal market.

Read more about IP and history  here.