According to relevant provisions, the state party will strengthen inspections on the export of counterfeit and pirated products, simplify the loss compensation procedures for injured enterprises, and strengthen the control of online transactions. Countries are also obliged to strengthen customs inspections and cut off relevant circulation channels. According to EU officials familiar with the situation, the parties are expected to reach a comprehensive agreement on the agreement in the short term by bridging their differences. According to estimates from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, global trade in counterfeit and pirated goods has increased from approximately US$100 billion in 2000 to approximately US$250 billion in 2007. It is reported that relevant negotiations have begun on September 23. Representatives from the United States, Japan, the 27 EU countries, South Korea, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, Morocco and Mexico participated in the negotiations.
Controversial agreement
Developed countries want to better protect their products against counterfeiting, but these measures may have other consequences, and the public and parliament are excluded.
Officials met in secret in Washington, in a location that was not even public. (Pictures: Reuters, AFP, ISTOCK)
Starting on Monday in Washington, government officials from some countries held discussions on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) negotiation. Part of the discussion is about whether U.S. dairy companies will be able to continue to call their grated cheese "Parmesan" (the best-known hard cheese made from skim milk). Patented manufacturers will be able to continue to freely supply the drugs they produce to developing countries, and internet companies will need to monitor the detailed behavior of their users. It touches on previously minor issues, but also includes fundamental issues of the knowledge society. However, both the public and parliament were excluded from the negotiations. What the world will look like in the 21st century is still a secret.
ACTA negotiations began in 2007, with negotiating partners including the European Union, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Morocco, Mexico, Singapore and Switzerland. According to its name, it requires countries to take responsibility for better implementation of trademark regulations. "But it has long stopped paying attention to fake Gucci bags," said European Parliament member Scar. Ska Keller (Green Party) told the Frankfurter Rundschau (FR). On the contrary, in addition to the United States and the European Union, there are also Japan and Mexico, and the contracting parties have pledged to protect intellectual property rights. This concept is very broad.
Draft disclosed for the first time
The content of secret talks on this large-scale plan involving 120 representatives has been revealed bit by bit over the past few months. Rumor has it that parties to the agreement are obliged to cut off Internet connections after three copyright infringements. The European Commission flatly denied it. The European Parliament issued a warning and passed a resolution requiring the European Commission involved in the negotiations to disclose the content of the negotiations. In April 2010, for the first and only time, the text of the draft agreement was officially made public.
In late June, about 90 legal scholars and civil rights activists from around the world gathered in Washington to analyze the text. Their conclusion is striking and that the agreement concerns citizens' rights to personal security, freedom of expression or personal privacy and data protection. Keller said: "We asked to limit the core content of the originally published text."
The EU Trade Commissioner did not provide an explanation of what is planned in the upcoming negotiations in response to FR's inquiry. What is known is that representatives from all parties will attend the negotiating session in Washington, which will last a full week. But it's unclear whether this is the official 10th round of negotiations or just informal discussions on relevant legal details.
Canadian law professor Michael. Michael Geist has been critically tracking the progress of the negotiations for many years, and his private blog currently provides the most reliable and up-to-date information on the negotiating positions. In his view, the negotiations have also made the dispute between the United States and the European Union more acute.
Originally, the meeting was scheduled for next week and was just a dialogue between parties who may have opposing views on the negotiations.
“The main issue in dispute is the scope of the agreement,” Guest told FR. “The EU wants to take further action, while the United States wants to limit copyright and patent rights.” Among other issues, Europe wants to protect indications of origin, such as Parmesan cheese, through ACTA. Guest pointed out that "an ACTA agreement without a clause for the protection of indications of origin is simply asking for trouble and has no meaning for Europe." Therefore, the United States must gradually amend its own laws. He estimated that in an election year, "this will be difficult to achieve."
Angry MPs
EU Trade Commissioner Carlo. Germany. Karel De Gucht (Free Party) has been trying to quell the anger of MEPs for months. He has repeatedly emphasized that the ACTA agreement will not change any European laws. The EU also hopes to announce the latest negotiation status, but a negotiating partner opposes this. Although virtue. Gucht did not say clearly, but this was clearly a reference to the United States.
For issues that have been in a deadlock for a long time, such as how to open up the content of negotiations, what concessions do the parties hope to make. The EU requires the United States to make some concessions in order to allow the origin mark to be included in ACTA.
Gest pointed out that the United States will continue to hold all negotiating parties accountable and will punish even minor copyright infringements. It can be seen that secret photography in movie theaters is prohibited. But "EU law is lacking in this regard," Guest said, adding that concerns include whether theaters will be forced to screen audiences.
The openness of the negotiations did not satisfy the European MPs. Although they were allowed to see the text of the draft, they could only read it in a screened room and were not allowed to copy it or discuss its content. Keller said there is no way to truly understand the draft and estimate its consequences without the help of experts. The EU is reluctant to involve lawyers in assessing the legal impact of the deal. Germany. Gucht submitted the draft agreement during the recess of parliament. Keller hasn't been able to read it yet. But by Friday, it may be out of date.