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Series

Intellectual Property Law

2013

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

TRIPS Agreement

Articles 1 - 2 of 2

Full-Text Articles in Law

Plain Packaging And The Trips Agreement: A Response To Professors Davison, Mitchell And Voon, Daniel J. Gervais Jan 2013

Plain Packaging And The Trips Agreement: A Response To Professors Davison, Mitchell And Voon, Daniel J. Gervais

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

The issue of plain packaging is at the very core of the intersection between trade law, intellectual property and public health. Unlike the issue of export of generic pharmaceuticals, which was addressed in the World Trade Organization by the adoption of a specific Declaration and notification system, it seems that plain packaging will be addressed by the WTO Dispute-Settlement Body. A report prepared by the author in 2010 discussing the intellectual property aspects of plain packaging was critiqued by Professors Davison, Mitchell and Voon in several publications and submissions, including a recent book. In this article, the author responds to …


Plain Packaging And The Interpretation Of The Trips Agreement, Daniel J. Gervais, Susy Frankel Jan 2013

Plain Packaging And The Interpretation Of The Trips Agreement, Daniel J. Gervais, Susy Frankel

Vanderbilt Law School Faculty Publications

Plain packaging of cigarettes as a way of reducing tobacco consumption and its related health costs and effects raises a number of international trade law issues. The plain packaging measures adopted in Australia impose strict format requirements on word trademarks (such as Marlboro or Camel) and ban the use of figurative marks (colors, logos, etc.). As a result, questions have been raised as to plain packaging’s compatibility with the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement).

WTO members can validly take measures to protect and promote public health, but in doing so they …