I recently published an op ed on the importance of strong intellectual property rights in El Libero, a Santiago, Chile newspaper. It is here.
Ignore the naysayers. The new USMCA deal is great for Canadian innovators
See my latest from the Financial Post here.
FairPlay in the Post
Here is my latest from the Financial Post, describing the FairPlay initiative to block pirate sites on the Internet.
FairPlay
Today is the final day for interventions to the Canada Radio-Televison and Telecommunications Commission on the FairPlay anti-piracy proposal. The FairPlay Proposal is a very carefully thought out means to begin to curtail online piracy in Canada. It deserves our support. I got my intervention into the CRTC today. It follows. FairPlay Submission
The Liberal budget finally delivered an ‘intellectual property strategy.’ And it’s absolutely ridiculous Richard C. Owens: This is Podunk Canadiana. Imagine if government set up a program to help a canoe builder to acquire the right screws
The government’s new intellectual property strategy is an embarrassing mess. My Financial Post op-ed can be found here.
Take notice copyright infringers: Canadian courts still think intellectual-property laws matter
While legislators and academics try to weaken Canada’s intellectual property laws, the courts know better; recent judgements cleave to sound IP doctrine. My op-ed for the Financial Post is here.
.
Trudeau Government is Building a Wall to Keep Out Life-Saving Drugs
My Financial Post editorial on the proposed changes to the regulations governing the Patented Medicines Price Review Board is here.
.
The Unkindest Cut
The federal government is planning ill-advised changes to the regulations governing the Patented Medicines Price Review Board. The intention is to make drugs in Canada more affordable. But we actually do not have high prices for drugs in Canada, relative to other jurisdictions, and prices have been kept under tight control for years. The actual effect of reducing drug prices will be to make life-saving therapies much harder to access, because they will not be introduced early into Canada. Moreover the proposed changes will make PMPRB procedure much slower and more complex. It is even possible that they will reset in higher prices. They will certainly worsen the environment for innovation in Canada. My paper with Wayne D Critchley on the topic has been published my Macdonald-Laurier Institute and can be found right here.
Patent Office Goes Rogue
The Canadian Patent Office refuses to allow diagnostic method patents, even though they are legal. Why? My National Post op-ed is here.
Trade and IP in NAFTA: Speech in Montreal
For those interested in hearing me speak in Montreal recently on IP and its connection to trade in Canada, at an even sponsored by ACTION on Trade and Macdonald-Laurier Institute, you will find the performance here.