NZ to sign anti-counterfeit agreement
New Zealand will join other countries in signing the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.
New Zealand will join other countries in signing the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA).
The signing, anncounced today by Minister of Trade Tim Groser, that will take place at an official ceremony arranged by Japan in Tokyo on 1 October.
ACTA aims to curb the growing trade in counterfeit goods and pirated copyright works, covers countries representing half the world’s trade.
Mr Groser said New Zealand businesses and consumers face a growing illegal trade in counterfeit goods and pirated works - both goods crossing our border and in the digital environment. This new Agreement tackled the growing issue of illegal trade in counterfeit goods and pirated works by “strengthening international enforcement in a co-operative and balanced way."
He said New Zealand already provided robust, modern intellectual property enforcement procedures in line with those set out in the agreement. It could now work more effectively with other countries in these efforts.
Cabinet has formally approved New Zealand’s signature of ACTA. A separate decision to ratify ACTA will be made subsequently, as is normal practice with international treaties.
This would require the Government to make some minor amendments to the Copyright Act 1994 and the Trade Marks Act 2002 and would be subject to the usual ratification process, including public consultation and scrutiny by Parliament.
Charlotte Woodfield
Thu, 29 Sep 2011
Thu, 29 Sep 2011
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NZ to sign anti-counterfeit agreement
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