In 2006, the United States and several key trading partners launched negotiations for the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), a new plurilateral treaty to help fight counterfeiting and piracy through enhanced international cooperation and more effective international standards for enforcing intellectual property (IP) rights. ACTA will build upon existing international rules, in particular the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS), to address a number of enforcement areas where countries have identified the need to strengthen the current international legal framework. 

The GIPC supports the administration’s efforts to conclude an ambitious and comprehensive ACTA that results in more effective enforcement of IP rights. ACTA promises to enhance international cooperation among nearly 40 countries by establishing a meaningful and effective framework for the protection of IP rights consistent with current law. It will help ensure that like-minded trading partners address counterfeiting and piracy and its damaging effects on investment, innovation, and jobs by raising the bar on enforcement, improving cooperation among partners, harmonizing how we confront IP theft, and setting a positive example for nations that aspire to have strong IP enforcement regimes.

It is important that we not allow ACTA to be derailed by a minority opposed to protecting the rights of artists, inventors, and entrepreneurs. The GIPC has been a consistent advocate of transparency in the ACTA negotiations, and we applauded USTR’s release of the draft, consolidated text on April 21. While work still needs to be done to finish the agreement, the draft demonstrates that many of the concerns raised by the detractors are unfounded.

Resources:

• ACTA - Summary of Key Elements Under Discussion (USTR)
• ACTA Fact Sheet (USTR, March 2010)
• U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Letter to USTR Regarding ACTA
• Letter from 108 businesses and associations to Ambassador Kirk urging for a speedy conclusion of ACTA
• Letter from interested trade associations to Ambassador Kirk commending the administration's decision to resume ACTA negotiations
• ICC Report: "Building a Digital Economy: The Importance of Saving Jobs in the EU’s Creative Industries"