Today, a global coalition of 62 market-oriented independent or non-government think tanks and institutes sent a letter to the WHO. Three institutes from ASEAN countries were among the signatories -- CIPS in Indonesia, IDEAS in Malaysia, and MGT in the Philippines.
See also:
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus
Director-General
World Health Organization
December 01, 2017, marked the five-year anniversary of
the full implementation of plain packaging in Australia. The removal of brands
and trademarks from packaging remains a gross violation of intellectual
property rights and has failed to achieve its intended goal. As a global
coalition of sixty-two think tanks, advocacy groups and civil-society
organizations that have been critical of plain packaging for any product, we
write in response to proposed plain packaging tobacco control measures and to
the announcements by several countries of their interest in pursuing these
policies.
Intellectual property rights are human rights enshrined
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: Article 17, the right to
ownership; Article 19, the right to freedom of expression; and Article 27, the
right to protection of material interests. In this regard, even if plain
packaging is effective, it should still be repealed, as rights are inalienable and
should not be discarded for political purposes.
International trade law, the UNDHR, and historic
international treaties are designed to protect intellectual property for this
very purpose. The innovation incentive created by trademarks fuels competition
and produces amazing products demanded by consumers like affordable medical
advances that save lives. Obviously, any loophole should be closed, not
exploited....
After Australia implemented the policy, other industries
have been targeted around the world: alcohol, sugary beverages, fatty foods,
even toys. These industries employ millions and any regulation that would deny
key IP assets would have a devastating global economic impact. The trademark
value alone of only twelve companies associated with these sectors is estimated
to be more than $1.8 trillion.
The costs of plain packaging are enormous: the loss of
the innovation incentive to the economy and society are inestimable, the
mutilation of established international IP law is unprecedented, and the market
carve-out to illicit actors, including terrorists, is reprehensible. It is
beyond reason that such a policy continues to be pursued, even after it has
failed to achieve its intended goal.
We urge the WHO and governments around the world to stop
infringing on intellectual property rights with plain packaging policies.
(Full letter and names of institute heads, co-signatories, see http://www.propertyrightsalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/2018-Global-Plain-Packaging-Coalition-to-WHO.pdf, or
---------------See also:
IPR and Innovation 39, Recent IP developments in CN, TW, KR, ID, November 05, 2017
My first article in BWorld, Oct 2007, on IPR, December 29, 2017
IPR and innovation 40, WHO health alarmism and IPR tinkering, January 16, 2018
IPR and Innovation 41, Governments and the UN on patent prizes, February 23, 2018
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