[Ip-health] USTR on the CAFTA deal

[Mike Palmedo]

Here's the press release:
http://www.cptech.org/ip/health/trade/cafta/ustrpressrelease12172003.pdf

And here's the longer fact sheet (see excerpt below)
http://www.cptech.org/ip/health/trade/cafta/ustr12172003.pdf
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Summary of the U.S.-Central America Free Trade Agreement

<snip>

Patents & Trade Secrets: Stronger Protections

- Provides for the extension of patent terms to compensate for delays in
granting the
original patent, consistent with U.S. practice.

- Limits the grounds for revoking a patent, thus protecting against
arbitrary revocation.

- Clarifies that test data and trade secrets submitted to a government
for the purpose of
product approval will be protected against unfair commercial use for a
period of 5 years
for pharmaceuticals and 10 years for agricultural chemicals. Closes
potential loopholes
to these provisions.

- Requires a system to prevent the marketing of pharmaceutical products
that infringe
patents.

-  Provides protection for newly developed plant varieties.

<snip>