Commission calls for closer cooperation with the USA on intellectual property rights protection
Following a workshop on intellectual property rights (IPRs) involving business and governments from the EU and the USA, held in Rome on 28 and 29 May 1996, Sir Leon Brittan, Commissioner responsible for trade, welcomed industry's calls for greater trans-Atlantic cooperation on IPR issues. The workshop revealed a high convergence of views on IPR questions between EU and US industry, according to Sir Leon Brittan. Both sides have a strong interest in providing adequate protection for digitally transmitted works, since these contents have a high added value in digital form and their production must not be discouraged. The Information Society requires adequate and effective intellectual property protection to ensure fair and open trade. Both sides agreed that their governments should work to ensure that the World Trade Organization's agreement on trade-related intellectual property rights (TRIPs) are fully implemented by all countries. The Commissioner hoped that further agreement between the EU and the USA would be reached at a forthcoming summit on 12 June 1996, particularly on cooperation in IPRs in the Information Society.