Overcoming Transatlantic differences on intellectual property: IPR and the TTIP negotiations

Recent studies demonstrate the important contribution of intellectual property rights (IPR) to the American and EU economies. Royalties and licence fees based on IPR figure high among the exports of both, and applications, and grants, for IPR protection made by Europeans in the US and vice-versa represent an important share of the totals. The differences between the respective IPR systems are comparatively small, yet seen as hard to overcome. The negotiation of the EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) may present the opportunity for a step change in EU-US relations in respect of IPR.

As both the EU and US have sought to promote in their bilateral and regional FTAs strong IPR-related standards, an IP chapter is also expected to feature in TTIP now under negotiation, as a joint effort to promoting strong IP protection globally. Nevertheless, concerns have been expressed. Parallels with the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), rejected by the European Parliament in July 2012, are being made, in particular over lack of transparency in the talks and the fear that TTIP would see some of the controversial ACTA provisions reintroduced. Furthermore, issues such as geographical indications may become a stumbling block in the negotiations.

• Primary Source

European Parliament: Directorate-General for Internal Policies of the Union: Publications available via the EU Bookshop http://bookshop.europa.eu/en/directorate-general-for-internal-policies-of-the-union-cbf.cKABstF7wAAAEjwYYY4e5K/

ESO: Key Source: Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) http://www.europeansources.info/record/transatlantic-trade-and-investment-partnership-ttip/

EP: EPRS: Key Source, 24.07.14: Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in TTIP negotiations http://epthinktank.eu/2014/07/24/intellectual-property-rights-ipr-in-ttip-negotiations/

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