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Blake Dawson - Proposal for a Plurilateral Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement

David Chin of Blake Dawson reports that Japan, the EC, the US and Switzerland have proposed a plurilateral Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to establish a new standard of intellectual property rights enforcement to combat global counterfeiting and piracy. In response to the proposal, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has released a discussion paper on whether or not Australia should become involved in negotiations or membership of the ACTA.

Blake Dawson - Proposal for a Plurilateral Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement



DFAT calls for comment on acceptance by Australia of Protocol amending TRIPS

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is calling for comments on acceptance by Australia of the Protocol Amending the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) to allow WTO Members  lacking manufacturing capacity to import patented pharmaceuticals made under compulsory license in certain circumstances.

The Protocol will enter into force upon acceptance by two thirds of WTO Members before 1 December 2007.  The amendment would not change Australia’s international obligations and would not require australia to change its patent laws.

Comments should be sent to ip@dfat.gov.au by Friday 16 March 2007.

Link to DFAT: Protocol amending the TRIPS Agreement - Consideration of acceptance by Australia


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