(Photo: ASEC - Community Relations Division)

The AANZFTA Chapter on Intellectual Property affirms and builds on the rights and obligations of the Parties under the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) in protecting the intellectual property rights of businesses in ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand.

Under AANZFTA, nationals of Parties shall be accorded national treatment (i.e. will not be treated any less favourable than a Party’s own nationals) with regard to the protection of intellectual property. It also contains obligations on copyright, government use of software, trademarks and geographical indications, and transparency.

The Chapter also provides for cooperation on intellectual property, including the establishment of a Committee on Intellectual Property to support implementation and to achieve the objectives of the Chapter.

Read the Agreement: Chapter 13. Intellectual Property