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A letter to the US Trade Representative Kirk from the IP Task Force of the U.S. Business Coalition for TPP highlighting their “key goals and objectives” was leaked in December.  The Coalition includes many of the IP-owning firms and trade associations that have weighed on international IP debates in the past, including computer software and hardware firms, pharmaceutical companies, and the MPAA.

The U.S. Business Coalition for TPP would like USTR to use the US-Korea FTA “as a baseline” for the IP Chapter of the Trans Pacific Partnership.  However, it views the language in the US-Korea  FTA on computer implemented inventions as not strong enough, and wants the TPP “to specifically require… patent protection for computer implemented inventions.”

The group would like to see the following in the enforcement section of the IP  chapter:

• A wide array of civil remedies, including injunctive relief and statutory damages
• Ex-Officio authority for police and for border guards to seize goods suspected of infringement
• Clearly defined ISP liability guidelines
• Outlawing of camcording in theaters
• Criminal penalties for those trafficking in illicit labels
• Enforcement against intent piracy, including noncommercial piracy
• Enforcement against “those purposefully take steps to promote infringement and ‘profit from developing and maintaining services that effectively induce it’.”

FULL TEXT:  Business Coalition Letter to USTR – December 2010