October 23, 2007
No. 146
The Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade, today announced that
Canada will participate in preliminary discussions with the United States, Mexico, the
European Union, Switzerland, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and other countries
toward an anti-counterfeiting trade agreement (ACTA).
“This government is working both at home and internationally to protect the intellectual
property rights of Canadian artists, creators, inventors and investors,” said
Minister Emerson. “We are seeking to counter global piracy and counterfeiting more
effectively, in an effort to foster an environment that allows for innovation, foreign
investment and sustained economic growth.”
The main objective of an ACTA would be to develop international standards to better
combat the trade in counterfeit trademarked and pirated copyright goods. Provisions
would focus on international cooperation, enforcement practices and legal frameworks,
including enforcement systems.
Counterfeiting and piracy pose an ever-increasing threat to the growth of the knowledge
economy. These illicit activities are also associated with organized crime, and can pose
serious health and safety risks to consumers.
Discussions toward an ACTA complement a number of activities that Canada is
currently undertaking to combat counterfeiting and piracy. These include international
efforts at the G8, at APEC, and within the Security and Prosperity Partnership with
Mexico and the United States, as well as the recent enactment of legislation to
criminalize the unauthorized recording of films in movie theatres.
The government takes the threat of pirated and counterfeit goods seriously, and is
strongly committed to improving the protection of intellectual property (IP) rights in
Canada. It underscored its commitment to strengthening Canada’s IP regime in the
October 16 Speech from the Throne (http://www.sft-ddt.gc.ca/eng/index.asp).
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For further information, media representatives may contact:
François Jubinville
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and
the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics
613-992-7332
Trade Media Relations Office
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
613-996-2000
http://www.international.gc.ca
