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intellectual property

Bill C-18 – CETA combination would entrench corporate control of food system, says NFU
18-Jun-2014 Daily Exchange
Under CETA, Canada has agreed to empower the courts to apply provisional and precautionary measures that include seizure of assets, destruction of equipment, and freezing of bank accounts against someone suspected of intellectual property rights infringement — that is, before any trial takes place. Plant Breeders’ Rights, which would be bolstered through Bill C-18, the Agricultural Growth Act, are included among the intellectual property rights covered by these measures.
Fight rages over definition of Tennessee whiskey
12-Jun-2014 AP
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.
Free trade agreement with the US threatening fruit and vegetable diversity
13-May-2014 DWN
The seed industry is planning to take advantage of the free trade agreement between the US and the EU (TTIP) to implement its patents in the European market.
Vilsack says sanitary issues delaying TTIP
30-Apr-2014 Agri-Pulse
Disagreements over sanitary and phytosanitary standards (SPS) are delaying US-EU Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership negotiations, according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.
How the revolving door lets Hollywood shape Obama’s trade agenda
25-Apr-2014 Vox
The revolving door between industry groups and the Obama administration’s trade shop has been busy lately.
Free trade agreements contain provisions that restrict access to medicines: UNITAID
8-Apr-2014
UNITAID, a global health initiative has warned against bilateral and regional trade agreements, pushed mostly by Europe and the US, as such agreements go well beyond traditional trade concerns and include provisions that force extensive obligations related to intellectual property and investor protection which would restrict access to medicines.
Leaked EU analysis of TTIP IPR negotiations
28-Mar-2014 KEI
Here is a two-page excerpt from a March 20, 2014 EU analysis of the TransAtlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) negotiations on intellectual property rights, including geographical indications.
TTIP and the big pharma wish-list
24-Mar-2014 Commons Network
A report by the Commons Network and civil society partners shows that the pharmaceutical industry’s wish list for the TTIP is detrimental for public health, will increase the cost of medicines and undermines democratic processes
US Senators shocked by EU’s cheese-name claims
13-Mar-2014 EurActiv
In a rare act of bipartisan unity, dozens of US senators have wheeled into action against what they call an "absurd" European initiative that would force name changes to common cheese varieties produced in the United States.
Canada-South Korea trade agreement demonstrates deals possible without increasing IP protections
12-Mar-2014 Michael Geist
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
6-Mar-2014 NPR
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?
Lessons from Vodafone tax case: Govt to rewrite BIPA to exclude taxation, intellectual property right issues
4-Mar-2014 Economic Times
India has readied a new draft to negotiate bilateral investment treaties in the future, keeping taxation and intellectual property right issues out of its ambit
Move on data protection or fail on TTIP, EU Parliament chair says
3-Feb-2014 IP Watch
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.
Possible retard de l’accord de libre-échange entre la Suisse et l’Inde
27-Jan-2014 RTS
Le conseiller fédéral suisse Johann Schneider-Ammann a laissé entendre samedi dans la presse alémanique que la question de la protection des brevets pourrait retarder l’accord de libre-échange avec l’Inde.
India-EFTA free trade pact talks stuck on intellectual property regime issue
20-Jan-2014 Economic Times
Negotiations for the free trade agreement between India and EFTA, four-member grouping that includes Switzerland, was stuck on the issue of intellectual property regime.
A TTIP Christmas wish
27-Dec-2013 IPtegrity
The European authorities want industry to come up with a counter-narrative to civil society in what would appear to be fear of an ACTA protest Mk2. This was revealed in a cosy Brussels soirée held at the American Chamber of Commerce to discuss the intellectual property content of the EU-US trade agreement known as TTIP.
The EU-Thailand FTA: What fate for access to medicines?
12-Dec-2013 IP Watch
Following the public outcry over the EU’s demands for stringent intellectual property rules that would dramatically raise medicines prices in India, you would expect the EU to think twice about making similar demands in future trade agreements. Yet, this is precisely what is going on now in the negotiations for a free trade agreement between the EU and Thailand.
2nd Wikileaks release: US refusing to budge on TPP issues
9-Dec-2013 IT News
A new set of leaked documents from the latest round of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations show large differences remain between the 12 nations trying to hammer out a trade agreement.
Joe Stiglitz writes open letter to TPP negotiators
8-Dec-2013 KEI
"At this point in time, we do not need a TRIPS plus trade agreement, we need a TRIPS minus agreement."
Leaks confirm fears about Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement
5-Dec-2013 Redeye
In mid-November, Wikileaks released the secret draft text for the Intellectual Property Rights Chapter of the TPP. Stuart Trew talks about what this leak tells us about the agreement as a whole.