OTTAWA, ON (October 2, 2018): The provisions on copyright and patents in the new US-Mexico-Canada Agreement should be seen as wins for Canadians, says Macdonald-Laurier Institute Munk Senior Fellow Richard Owens, one of Canada’s leading experts on intellectual property law.
Some commentators characterize tougher enforcement mechanisms for online piracy, copyright term extensions, and data protection for biologic drugs as concessions Canada made in negotiations. But in fact, these new IP measures will go a long way towards promoting innovation and protecting the economic activity associated with IP rights in Canada. Much of the IP chapter is a welcome modernization of a dated NAFTA agreement.
“Canada should strive to meet the highest global standards for protecting Canadian creators and innovators,” says Owens.
“These IP and digital commerce provisions resemble the TPP. They were a good deal then and they would be a good deal now.”
A lawyer and adjunct professor at the University of Toronto, Richard Owens specializes in business and commercial law, regulation of financial institutions, intellectual property and technology. Owens has been repeatedly recognized as among Canada’s best lawyers in technology law and attained the highest rating on Martindale-Hubbell.
The Macdonald-Laurier Institute is the leading independent federal public policy think tank in Ottawa.
To arrange an interview with Richard Owens, please contact:
David Watson
Managing Editor and Director of Communications
613-482-8327 x103
david.watson@macdonaldlaurier.ca
