Process innovation and best practices is not generally something that gets IP protection.
AS for the article: The richest countries have strong IP protections, generally, that might indicate something.
Certainly creative trademarks, brands etc. - I don't like Disney but I think they have the right to protect Mickey Mouse so long as they are a viable entity/business.
Drugs ... this is one place where innovation might come to a halt of things could not be protected. I'm aware Unis do a lot of key research, but bringing something to market is hugely expensive.
Also remember a lot of patents are defensive in nature - their only purposes is to prevent trolls. So that's a sad artifact of it all.
No doubt the system needs an overhaul.