Two key components of “twenty-first century trade agreements” are disciplines on intellectual property rights (IPR) and the role of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). However, trade negotiators have given scant attention to government-sponsored patent pools (GSPP). GSPPs are essentially “patent acquisition firms” established as a form of public-private partnership for the sale and commercialization of academic research but have since evolved to acquire foreign patents for the purpose of promoting domestic industries, issuing licenses at low cost and actively pursuing litigation against possible infringement by foreign firms. Such practices have the practical effect of serving as a trade barrier and some governments that utilize them are explicit about this goal.

GSPPs present a policy challenge to the trading system. The growing role of GSPPs presents unique questions for international trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) that should be addressed.

Please join us for a panel discussion on this important topic.

Featuring:

Marc Busch
Karl F. Landegger Professor of International Business Diplomacy, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University

Tim Trainer
President, Global Intellectual Property Strategy Center, P.C.

Sean Heather
Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Center for Global Regulatory Cooperation

Malcolm Lee
Nonresident Senior Fellow, the Brookings Institution

Moderated by:

Scott Miller
Senior Adviser and Scholl Chair in International Business, CSIS