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It doesn’t matter who does the lobbying: Trade agreements aren’t the place for internet regulations
Recent TiSA leaks show that not just content industry players, but now internet companies are lobbying for their interests in trade deals.
The TPPA and HIV treatment in Vietnam
Only 30% of Vietnam’s eligible HIV patients would have access to ARVs under the US 2014 TPPA proposals, instead of the 68% receiving treatment today.
International Chamber of Commerce: Trade secret law should be harmonized, included in TPP
The International Chamber of Commerce is urging the inclusion of strong trade secret provisions in the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement.
Fight secret copyright deals: A global TPP teach-in
A public online teach-in with representatives from several digital rights groups based in Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries who share their analysis of the latest leaked text and lay out the current state of play of the negotiations
Trade deals criminalise farmers’ seeds
From Guatemala to Ghana, from Mozambique to Malaysia, seed-saving on the farm is being turned into a criminal offence, so that half a dozen large multinational corporations can turn seeds into private property and make money from them.
Stronger plant variety protection may threaten the right to food
Governments in industrial countries regularly put pressure on developing countries to introduce stringent plant variety protection (PVP) regimes and to adhere to the 1991 Act of the UPOV Convention, without duly considering its consequences on the enjoyment of human rights of vulnerable groups.
Intellectual property protection is hurting Ebola victims
Many critics are pointing out that the lack of an Ebola vaccine is due to the intellectual property protections offered through trade deals like the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
Responding to frequently asked questions: TPP TTIP pharmaceutical reimbursement “transparency”
Brand name pharmaceutical companies are advocating for inclusion of disciplines on public pharmaceutical reimbursement programs in the ongoing negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
Trading away access to medicines "revisited"
How the European trade agenda continues to undermine access to medicines
Australia: Harper review recommends scrutiny of trade agreement IP clauses
A panel conducting a review of Australia competition policy landscape has recommended increased scrutiny of intellectual property-related clauses in trade agreements.
GIs becoming growing cheese trade barrier
The US National Milk Producers Federation and the US Dairy Export Council say that geographical indications established as a direct result of EU FTAs are a new and growing type of trade barrier restricting access to the Korean and other markets for key US cheeses.
Overcoming Transatlantic differences on intellectual property: IPR and the TTIP negotiations
A report from the European Parliament Research Service
Fight rages over definition of Tennessee whiskey
The fight over labels on whiskey bottles comes amid a global drive to seek labeling protections by a smorgasbord of regional foods such as cheeses, hams and wines.
Canada-South Korea trade agreement demonstrates deals possible without increasing IP protections
The IP chapter of the Canada-Korea FTA is significant for what it does not include. Unlike many other trade deals — particularly those involving the US, EU and Australia — it is content to leave domestic intellectual property rules largely untouched, writes Michael Geist.
Europe tells US to lay off Brie and get its own cheese names
The European Union wants US food makers to stop using names with historical ties to Europe. But what else would you call, say, Parmesan or Brie?
Move on data protection or fail on TTIP, EU Parliament chair says
On 31 January, there was a stern warning from Elmar Brok, chair of the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee, that the United States must move quicker on joint data protection standards to avoid failure of the bilateral talks between the EU and the US.