More than 125 international trade organizations have signed a statement opposing the implementation of plain packaging, both for tobacco and other products.
The statement,'Trademark Elimination Via Plain Packaging', expresses 'concerns regarding government-mandated trademark elimination via "plain packaging" measures'.
It notes that while "governments have the authority to regulate when necessary to protect the public interest, […] such measures should be consistent with fundamental tenets of law and international legal obligations.
"They should be proportionate, evidence-based and effective in achieving a specific purpose. They should be adopted after sober deliberation and careful consideration of the potential for unintended consequences. Plain packaging rules that mandate trademark elimination do not meet these standards."
Lobby groups that signed the statement include the Council of the Americas, BUSINESSEUROPE, the EU-ASEAN Business Council, ICC BASCAP, the Taxpayers Association of Europe (TAE) and the World Business Organization.
Last week, the US Chamber of Commerce, which has already declared its opposition to Ireland's plain packaging proposals, released its 3rd annual International IP Index.
“Protecting intellectual property drives innovation in economies, which creates everything from life-saving cures, to the must-have technologies and services that allow consumers to access the latest creative content everywhere," said David Hirschmann, president and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Cente.
"Without protections in place to safeguard innovation, these breakthrough products and technologies simply wouldn’t exist.”
© 2015 - Checkout Magazine by Stephen Wynne-Jones
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