Framework of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)

October 23, 2007

To bring about the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) (provisional name), a new international legal framework to strengthen the enforcement of intellectual property rights, the Government of Japan has decided to discuss the contents to be actualized in close cooperation with other countries that are highly concerned about protecting intellectual property rights. A meeting on this issue is planned to be held in Geneva, Switzerland, by the end of this year, to be attended by the countries concerned.
The worldwide proliferation of counterfeit and pirated products poses an ever-increasing threat not only to sustainable economic development but also to consumers’ health and safety. Moreover, new issues have also been emerging rapidly on a global scale, such as the violation of intellectual property rights through the trading of counterfeit goods over the Internet.
To counter these problems effectively, Japan looks to actively pursue this effort, which is directed at establishing a high-level international legal framework based on strong legal standards on enforcement of intellectual property rights, strengthening the enforcement practices, and international cooperation.

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