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IP-ENFORCEMENT ROUNDUP

Introducing the IP Enforcement Roundup.

PIJIP is beginning a Monday newsletter that will highlight major happenings in international intellectual property from the previous week, and call attention to upcoming meetings and filing deadlines.  It is part of a project we are beginning with the American Assembly at Columbia University and the Centro de Tecnologia e Sociedade, Fundação Getulio Vargas in Brazil.  The content will also be posted on a new website we are developing, infojustice.org.  Please send feedback or suggestions for future newsletters to pijip@wcl.american.edu The IP-Enforcement list will still be in use for late-breaking news and discussion.

US Trade Representative requests comments on ACTA, and on the 2011 Special 301 Report

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has requested written submissions from the public on two major elements of its IP Enforcement work.  Two separate requests for comments were issued in February – one for ACTA and the other for the Special 301 Report. The deadline for both is February 15.  Click here for more.

Leaked documents from US Business Coalition and the New Zealand government outline their positions on the IP Chapter of the TPP

A position paper sent to USTR by the U.S. Business Coalition for TPP was leaked in December. It highlights the group’s top policy goals for the IP chapter of the Trans Pacific Partnership.  The coalition asks USTR to use the US-Korea FTA “as a baseline,” and lists a number of specific requests on enforcement. A paper from the government of New Zealand on the IP chapter was also leaked in December, and it revealed a much different position. New Zealand warns against “seeking to strengthen IP standards beyond those agreed to in TRIPS.” More information and links to the original documents: U.S. Business Coalition Paper | New Zealand Paper.

News reports suggest that ACTA may be signed at the OECD ministerial

Inside U.S. Trade has reported that the final text of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement may be signed in Paris during the May 2011 OECD ministerial meeting.  It is expected that this would allow time for Greece and Italy to moderate their concerns over the lack of strong language regarding geographical indications in the final text. Click here for more on the story.

Upcoming meetings on international IP enforcement.

On January 25, the EU’s Directorate General for Trade will hold an open Civil Society Dialogue Meeting on ACTA.  On February 2-3, the Sixth Global Congress Combating Piracy will take place in Paris, co-hosted by WIPO and INPI, in partnership with Interpol, the World Customs Organization, BASCAP, and the International Trade Mark Association. WIPO has also published a list of its Conferences, Meetings and Seminars to be held in the first half of 2011.  For future reference, PIJIP is creating an ongoing list of upcoming events which will be available here.