15 May 2009

Submissions sought on intellectual property proposals

12:30 pm on 15 May 2009

The Government is calling for submissions on a range of intellectual property proposals that may be considered during ongoing discussions around a proposed Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.

The proposals relate to border protection measures and civil and criminal enforcement provisions that are not currently part of New Zealand law.

Commerce Minister Simon Power says he has been discussing the development of the agreement with Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Singapore, Switzerland, the United States and the European Union.

Mr Power says he expects information gathered from submissions to help develop New Zealand's approach to the proposals.

The next round of discussions is expected to include enforcement issues in the digital environment.?