The administration has characterized the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) Agreement as “an ambitious, next-generation, Asia-Pacific trade agreement.” It is being negotiated with Australia, Brunei, Chile, Malaysia, New Zealand, Peru Singapore and Vietnam — with Canada and Mexico as set to join.
CCIA supports the speedy completion of a high-quality “21st century” Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. A 21st-century agreement will contain provisions that permit the smooth functioning of the industry of the 21st century — the Internet. The Internet is visibly revolutionizing the way businesses — including small and medium enterprises — function. Without a smoothly functioning Internet, the negotiated provisions of TPP will not yield the desired gains for TPP citizens.
First, TPP must include balanced intellectual property rules. An intellectual property regime can allow technological progress only if it appropriately balances the competing interests between encouraging investment and enabling information access. Because the international trade regime has generally lacked flexible IP provisionis to promote innovation, it is necessary to modernize the IP provisions of the aging trade framework to be consistent with Internet and high-technology innovation.
Second, TPP should promote the free flow of information online, recognizing that blocking bits at the border is as much as affront to international free trade as blocking physical goods. The ability of U.S. businesses to operate effectively on a global scale depends fundamentally on open information flows. When foreign governments block online information, when businesses are impeded for using the Internet to reach international markets, when secure corporate communications are not assured, the collateral damage is done to U.S. exports and U.S. jobs.
Senator Wyden and Representatives Chaffetz and Goodlatte are introducing legislation Wednesday that would set some ground rules for when companies would be required to turn over both real time and previous data on a customer’s location. The bill means the government would need a warrant to get access to geolocation information for criminal investigations. The…
Today the Supreme Court upheld the Federal Circuit’s protective view of low-quality patents in Microsoft v. i4i. Despite the limited review at the Patent and Trademark Office, the Court affirmed that once granted, a patent can only be invalidated by “clear and convincing evidence,” a strong presumption of validity that is especially helpful for marginal…
Several human rights associations, the Organization of American States and a UN Committee have released two landmark documents on protecting free expression and the free flow of information on the Internet. The Computer & Communications Industry Association strongly endorses both documents and urges UN member states and the world’s governments to implement their provisions in…
FCC officials are now wading through thousands of petitions to deny AT&T’s FCC Application to takeover T-Mobile. Unlike DOJ, complaints to the FCC are public, so it takes some bravery for companies that must do business with AT&T to complain. Iowa Wireless, a subsidiary of T-Mobile, is getting some attention for filing a petition asking the FCC…
FCC officials are now wading through thousands of petitions to deny AT&T’s FCC Application to takeover T-Mobile. Unlike DOJ, complaints to the FCC are public, so it takes some bravery for companies that must do business with AT&T to complain. Iowa Wireless, a subsidiary of T-Mobile, is getting some attention for filing a petition asking the FCC…
The European Commission recently enacted a new directive that went into force last Thursday night and would strongly regulate the circumstances under which web cookies can be placed on users’ computers. Cookies are small pieces of text that are stored on the user’s computer and are transmitted back to the website that placed it whenever the user…
This is an necessary category.
This is an non-necessary category.
