Comments received by the U.S. Trade Representative for the 2012 Special 301 Report have been posted online at regulations.gov This year, USTR received 41 comments from groups or individuals. Of these, 28 came from businesses, trade organizations, or coalitions representing…
AUTHOR: Brook Baker. ABSTRACT: European Customs officials have used fictive patent rights to justify the seizure of lawful generic medicines produced in India and destined for non-European markets. Following a public outcry and initiation of two WTO complaints, the EU…
The office of the US Trade Representative has requested comments from interested parties on “Notorious Markets,” which include both physical markets and internet sites that distribute infringing content. This is the second year in which the USTR list of Notorious…
India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry has announced an agreement with the EU to setting their dispute over the seizure of Indian generic drugs in transit. The EU has agreed to adopt guidelines for its customs officials preventing them from…
Australian Ambassador Kim Beasley has vowed that Australia will not change the Tobacco Plain Packaging Act, which prohibits cigarette packs from displaying brands and logos, despite accusations that the law violates international trademark law. According to Inside U.S. Trade, last…
USTR today published the NTE Report, which describes barriers to trade in 60 nations, the European Union, and the Arab League. The report contains (very brief) descriptions of the IP landscape in each of the countries covered, and often notes…
Yesterday, filings were submitted in a notice and comment process for the USTR’s “Special 301” program, which is a process through which the USTR unilaterally threatens sanctions on foreign countries for failing to adhere to U.S. demands on domestic intellectual…