− | The '''Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)''' is a global effort to improve and create international standards for the enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights laws against large scale IP Rights (IPR) infringements. The primary components of ACTA include (1) international cooperation (2) enforcement practices and (3)legal framework to enforce IPR.<ref>[http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2008/october/tradoc_140836.11.08.pdf The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, Fact sheet, Updated November 2008]</ref> On October 1, 2011, United States, Australia, Canada, Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Morocco, and Singapore signed ACTA during a ceremony in Tokyo, Japan. On January 26, 2012, the members of the EU signed the agreement despite street protests in France and Poland and international oppositions. <ref>[http://www.ustr.gov/acta ACTA Signing Participants in Tokyo, Japan on October 1, 2011]</ref> <ref>[http://infojustice.org/archives/7566 EU Signs ACTA Amid Protests and Growing International Opposition]</ref> | + | The '''Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)''' is a global effort to improve and create international standards for the enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights laws against large scale IP Rights (IPR) infringements. The primary components of ACTA include (1) international cooperation (2) enforcement practices and (3)legal framework to enforce IPR.<ref>[http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/docs/2008/october/tradoc_140836.11.08.pdf The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, Fact sheet, Updated November 2008]</ref> On October 1, 2011, United States, Australia, Canada, Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Morocco, and Singapore signed ACTA during a ceremony in Tokyo, Japan. On January 26, 2012, the members of the EU signed the agreement despite street protests in France and Poland and international oppositions. <ref>[http://www.ustr.gov/acta ACTA Signing Participants in Tokyo, Japan on October 1, 2011]</ref> <ref>[http://infojustice.org/archives/7566 EU Signs ACTA Amid Protests and Growing International Opposition]</ref> |
| In 2006, Japan and the United States introduced the idea of a new plurilateral treaty to combat counterfeiting and piracy which was called the | | In 2006, Japan and the United States introduced the idea of a new plurilateral treaty to combat counterfeiting and piracy which was called the |
− | Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to bring together interested all governments worldwide that are willing to cooperate to improve the international standards to enforce the protection of Intellectual Property Rights. The negotiation started on June 2008.<ref>[http://www.ustr.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/factsheets/2009/asset_upload_file917_15546.pdf The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement - Summary of Key Elements Under Discussion]</ref> | + | Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) to bring together interested all governments worldwide that are willing to cooperate to improve the international standards to enforce the protection of Intellectual Property Rights. The negotiation started on June 2008.<ref>[http://www.ustr.gov/sites/default/files/uploads/factsheets/2009/asset_upload_file917_15546.pdf The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement - Summary of Key Elements Under Discussion]</ref> Any member of the World Trade Organization ([[WTO]]) supporting ACTA will be able to sign the agreement until May 2013.<ref>[[http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/i_property/pdfs/acta1105_en.pdf Final Text of ACTA]</ref> |