A country can issue patents for developments that are addressed to the specific needs of that country, but refuse to issue patents for work done by the developed world for the developed world.
In October 1999 it was announced Russia has agreed to extend copyright protection to European sound recordings produced before 1995, following an agreement with the EU. As a result, pop classics like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Johnny Hallyday will enjoy effective protection for illegal copying, as will Deutsche Gramaphon and other classical producers. Up to now, Russian recordings produced as far back as 1943 have enjoyed protection, whereas only those European recordings produced since 1995 enjoyed IPR protection. Under the terms of the 1997 EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, Russia undertook to bring its IPR legislation into line with EU legislation by the year 2002. This agreement paves the way for this process to be concluded far more speedily.
When the US was a developing country, it did not recognize patents for foreign inventions, only for domestic ones. Developing countries today might benefit from a similar policy.