The U.S. Trade Representative has released the 2012 Special 301 Report, in which it accuses countries of denying “adequate and effective” protection of intellectual property, or discriminating against American companies that rely on intellectual property protection.  A short statement accompanying the report  says that it “reflects the Administration’s resolve to encourage and maintain effective IPR protection and enforcement worldwide. It identifies a wide range of concerns, including troubling ‘indigenous innovation’ policies that may unfairly disadvantage U.S. rights holders in China, the continuing challenges of copyright piracy over the Internet in countries such as Canada, Italy and Russia, and the ongoing, systemic IPR enforcement issues presented in many trading partners around the world.”

This year there are 40 countries listed, after a review of 77.  The countries included in the report are: Continue reading »

Tomorrow USTR will hold an open hearing as part of the 2012 Special 301 Review, in which it identifies countries that “deny adequate or effective intellectual property protection or deny fair and equitable market access to United States persons that rely upon intellectual property protection.”  This year, there will be fewer big businesses and trade associations at the hearing than in previous years, though USTR has received written comments from them.  The witness list – containing three country representatives, three IP owner representatives, and six NGO/academic speakers – is available here.  To view the written comments received by USTR for this year’s 301 review, go to regulations.gov and enter the search code “ustr-2011-0021.”

This blog highlights the main points made by a coalition of civil society NGOs, PhRMA, and IIPA in  written comments to USTR. Continue reading »