[A2k] Fwd: European anti-counterfeiting plan - from Europolitics

Wed Sep 24 10:16:57 2008

--
[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
 ------------------------------

*From:* Anne-Catherine Lorrain [mailto:aclorrain@consint.org]
*Sent:* Wednesday, September 24, 2008 10:36 AM
*To:* ip@tacd.org
*Subject:* RE: European anti-counterfeiting plan - from Europolitics

The European Council has submitted a Resolution "on a comprehensive Europea=
n
anticounterfeiting

and anti-piracy plan" (see also the message I sent on August 29 on the
ip@tacd.org list serve: "Counterfeiting: Paris proposes a European
observatory"). The Council calls upon the Commission to submit an
anti-counterfeiting customs plan for the years 2009 to 2012=85

"=85Internationally, the action plan calls on the EU to step up IPR protect=
ion
by promoting the inclusion, in bilateral and multilateral agreements
concluded by the EU, of measures on intellectual property rights. This woul=
d
require taking an active part in negotiations for the conclusion of a
plurilateral anti-counterfeiting trade agreement as well as seeking to
establish a task force with the remit of scrutinising implementation of any
agreement. The EU would then "promote" the IPR issue when talking to third
countries."

European institutions seem to give a growing support to ACTA & Co=85

ACL

Anne-Catherine Lorrain

Intellectual Property Policy Expert

TransAtlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD)
Avenue de Tervueren, 36 Bte 4
1040 Bruxelles

aclorrain@consint.org

Mob (Belgium): +32 473 99 97 92

Cell (US): +1 202 390 6264
Tel: +32 2 740 28 17
Fax: +32 2 740 28 02
www.tacd.org

_____________________________________________
*From:* BEUC - news
*Sent:* Wednesday, September 24, 2008 10:22 AM
*To:* BEUC - legal
*Cc:* BEUC - communications; BEUC - news; do
*Subject:* anti-counterfeiting plan - from Europolitics

Competitiveness Council
*Ministers to adopt anti-counterfeiting plan*
By Dafydd ab Iago | 23 September 2008

The Competitiveness Council, on 25 September, is set to adopt a
comprehensive anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy plan. According to a
version of the document seen by* Europolitics,* the plan calls on the
European Commission to establish a European observatory on counterfeiting
and piracy as well as beef up its information activities to those fighting
counterfeiting and piracy, especially via the internet. Member states also
want the Commission to be more ambitious in developing actions to raise
awareness and communicate with consumers, including the "youngest
consumers". This could even include a European awareness day on the dangers
of counterfeiting. A further element in the plan calls upon both the
Commission and member states to use "all appropriate means" to combat
counterfeiting and piracy effectively. Before adopting the plan, the
Commission will present its recent communication on an 'industrial property
rights strategy for Europe' and review the customs action plan on
anti-counterfeiting measures for 2005-2008.

Action plan for 2009 to 2012

The Commission is thus called upon to submit an anti-counterfeiting customs
plan for the years 2009 to 2012. This should give priority to "full" use of
electronic systems. Relevant authorities should also further develop
cooperation, particularly at borders, and principally between customs
authorities as well as rights holders so as to make a survey of customs law
and evaluate the improvements needed to the legal framework. The goal is to
improve action against counterfeit products that are a danger to consumers.
Further points in the action plan for 2009-2012 include the establishing of
a network for the rapid exchange of information on counterfeit products and
services. This would improve cross-border administrative cooperation and
draw upon national contact points and modern information-sharing tools.
Additionally, member states should beef up coordination between institution=
s
involved in combating counterfeiting and piracy by sharing good practice
between national administrations.

Other elements in the action plan include studying the effectiveness of the
legal framework in enforcing intellectual property rights (IPR) as well as
submitting appropriate proposals to encourage public private partnerships t=
o
combat counterfeiting and piracy. There should be recommendations on good
practice, especially as regards internet sales and on encouraging
professionals to work together. Internationally, the action plan calls on
the EU to step up IPR protection by promoting the inclusion, in bilateral
and multilateral agreements concluded by the EU, of measures on intellectua=
l
property rights. This would require taking an active part in negotiations
for the conclusion of a plurilateral anti-counterfeiting trade agreement as
well as seeking to establish a task force with the remit of scrutinising
implementation of any agreement. The EU would then "promote" the IPR issue
when talking to third countries.

The Council documents are available at
http://www.europolitics.info/web/external-file/pdf/gratuit_en/233515-en.pdf

______________________________________________________________________
This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System.
For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email
______________________________________________________________________

--
Anne-Catherine Lorrain
aclorrain@gmail.com
+32 473 99 97 92