[Ip-health] AFP: Malaysia Shores Up Anti-Piracy Efforts Ahead of US Trade Deal

[Mike Palmedo]

http://www.financialexpress-bd.com/index3.asp?cnd=4/21/2006&section_id=9&newsid=22223&spcl=no

Malaysia shores up anti-piracy efforts ahead of US trade deal

4/21/2006

KUALA LUMPUR, Apr 20 (AFP): Malaysia said today it will sign a number of
intellectual property treaties to shore up anti-piracy efforts ahead of
a proposed free trade deal with the United States.

The international pacts, which will protect inventions and original
research, will be signed next month, said Minister of Domestic Trade and
Consumer Affairs Shafie Apdal.

"I am aware that there are many calls for Malaysia to join international
IP (intellectual property) agreements," Shafie said at a discussion on
IP cooperation between the United States and Malaysia.

Malaysia and the United States agreed in March to start negotiations on
a free trade agreement (FTA), which is expected to see Malaysia tighten
laws to meet stringent US requirements for intellectual property rights
protection.

Despite government crackdowns, illegal discs are freely available in
Malaysian shopping malls and street markets, and pirates even offer home
delivery services for the latest movies and games.

US Ambassador to Malaysia, Christopher LaFleur, praised Malaysia's
efforts but indicated future trade negotiations would have to tackle
intellectual property protection.

"Both sides want to benefit from an increasingly free and open exchange
of intellectual property, and the basis for that has to be confidence
that, for both of us, our intellectual property is going to be
protected," he said.

Shafie said Malaysia was committed to fighting piracy and that a special
court to hear piracy cases and amended laws to prosecute shop owners
whose premises are used for illegal sales are expected by 2007.

Malaysia has hailed the economic potential of an FTA with the US, its
largest export market, but activists say they fear the country will be
pressured into unfair trading concessions.

They say the FTA will see the end of cheap generic medicines as US
companies enforce patent rights, but LaFleur said the rights of
corporations, who invest heavily in developing new drugs, had to be
protected.