Internet and e-commerce law professor Michael Geist has received and commented on the latest version of the intellectual property chapter in the Canada-EU free trade agreement (CETA). According to Geist, “the EU is demanding nothing less than a complete overhaul of Canadian IP laws including copyright, trademark, databases, patent, geographic indications, and even plant variety rights.”
He points out that while the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement is getting more media attention so far, CETA would require far more domestic policy change in Canada. “Given the magnitude of the proposed changes, the price of a trade agreement is clear,” writes Geist today on his blog. “The EU is effectively demanding that Canada surrender its sovereignty over intellectual property law and policy.”
To see what kinds of changes to Canadian law the EU is demanding through CETA, see Geist’s blog: EU Demands Canada Completely Overhaul Its Intellectual Property Laws.
