Open Letter Urges Ambassador Portman to Block Efforts to Amend WTO's TRIPS Over 'Biopiracy'
WASHINGTON, March 7 /PRNewswire/ -- USA For Innovation today urged in an open letter to Ambassador Rob Portman that USTR spearhead a serious effort to stop attacks by Brazil and India on intellectual property (IP) rights as their current practices severely damage the economic welfare and security of the United States.
Recently, Brazil backed away from its threat to abrogate patents on AIDS medicines invented and manufactured by American pharmaceutical companies. Nonetheless, Brazil's campaign to chip away at IP law globally continues. India and the European Trade Commissioner Peter Mandelson support these efforts.
Actions to undermine IP rights are underway in the World Trade Organization, World Intellectual Property Organization and a United Nations sanctioned body, Convention on Biological Diversity with claims of "biopiracy," a false allegation intended to amend the TRIPS Agreement to include provisions which would undermine the global patent system.
"Ambassador Portman must stop efforts of Brazil and India to weaken intellectual property standards in the WTO," said former U.S. Ambassador Ken Adelman. "Amending the TRIPS Agreement with scurrilous provisions is a serious threat to the economic security of the United States."
A scholarly paper commissioned by USA For Innovation finds IP squarely at the heart of American economic growth -- "The Economic Value of Intellectual Property" by economists Dr. Robert Shapiro and Dr. Kevin Hassett -- quantifies the value of American intellectual property at $5 - 5.5 trillion, far higher than previous estimates.
USTR needs to adopt a tougher position against nations like Brazil and India, as WTO negotiations get underway. "Brazil and India must know that theft of American innovations could disqualify them from receiving our preferential trade benefits," said Adelman.
About USA For Innovation
USA For Innovation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of intellectual property and continued innovation around the globe. USA For Innovation educates decision makers, the media and general public about threats to innovation. For additional information, please contact us at 866-646-8668 or john@usaforinnovation.org.
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