ACTA worries raised at the WTO

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

ACTA worries raised at the WTO

Brussels was the setting for impassioned debate over the EU's approach to ACTA this week. But it wasn’t the only place where concerns were raised in Europe

The issue was on the agenda of Tuesday’s meeting of the WTO’s TRIPs Council meeting in Geneva – which in itself caused a row between the ACTA signatories on the Council and those not party to the negotiations.

Managing IP understands that India, Venezuela, Egypt and Ecuador questioned why the issue had been tabled for discussion as an agenda item, rather than as any other business. Once a decision had been taken to keep it on the agenda, representatives from those countries that have signed the anti-counterfeiting deal defended it, saying that it would not limit freedom of expression or target generic medicines.

But India claimed that ACTA would undermine the flexibilities in the TRIPs Agreement that make it easier for developing countries to produce and export generic pharmaceuticals and referred to cases in the EU where Indian-made medicines have been seized by Customs officers in the EU.

India was not the only country to raise ACTA-related worries. Bangladesh shared its concerns about access to medicines, while China noted that many of its provisions are TRIPs-plus. The Brazilian representative repeated concerns that that the country had made before about efforts to harmonise IP rules: that one-size does not fit all.



more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Sources explain why return-to-office mandates could hamper efficiency at the USPTO
The Unified Patent Court surpassing 700 cases and a row between Apple and PanOptis were among the top talking points this week
Partners at four firms explain how they help clients join in the hype around the big game without attracting the NFL’s wrath
We discuss how law firms are using AI, whether remote working has resulted in cost-savings, and what corporate counsel want from their advisers when it comes to DEI
Matthew Yeates, managing director at Integrated IP, discusses its acquisition of Clark IP and reveals further expansion plans
Paul Lee discusses moving from venture capital to IP, why lawyers are becoming more receptive to tech, and why he starts his day with a cold plunge
Barbara Lawton, a counsellor and mental health trainer at wellbeing charity Jonathan’s Voice, outlines tips for engaging with vulnerable people
New partner Amir Ghavi, who will help launch the group, says he expects more lateral hires in the coming weeks
Counsel at three firms reveal the tools they’re using to generate patent invalidity claim charts and why they’re making investments in the technology
Eric Lee says the firm’s thought leadership on artificial intelligence convinced him to move
Gift this article