G8 Nations "ACTA Up", But Quietly

Earlier this year, leaders of the G8 countries convened in Japan, in part, to discuss the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). On July 8, 2008, the G8 Intellectual Property Experts' Group released its Report of Discussions: G8 Intellectual Property Experts' Group Meeting G8 Intellectual Property Experts' Group Meeting, which recommended "concrete measures towards realizing a well functioning and efficient intellectual property (IP) system and for combating counterfeiting and piracy." The ACTA was initiated in 2007 by the world's wealthiest countries to further globalize and standardize IP rights (for further details, see E-TIPS® "Concerns Voiced Over Broad Copyright Policing Powers Under ACTA", Vol 6, No 24, June 4, 2008). The ACTA first attracted wider attention when details of the treaty were leaked last year. Critics have noted the relative lack of public consultation regarding ACTA's development and have made a linkage with the somewhat controversial Bill C-61 recently introduced in the Canadian Parliament to revise the Copyright Act (see E-TIPS® "Proposed Changes to the Canadian Copyright Act, Bill C-61", Vol 6, No 25, June 18, 2008). It will be interesting to follow the upcoming debate on both the ACTA and Bill C-61 when the Canadian Parliament resumes sitting in the autumn. For commentary, see: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/blogs/cyberia?cid=al_gam_nletter_dtechal Summary by: Abigail Browne