In 2006, the MacArthur Foundation awarded KEI a MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions, saying in part:
KEI promotes balanced intellectual property polices in U.S. law and in international agreements and norms. It supports providing reasonable benefits and incentives to creators and owners, while making essential knowledge and goods accessible and affordable to the broadest possible public. It is an effective broker and guide in this increasingly complex debate and one that is sought out worldwide.[1]