On January 28, the News/Media Alliance filed comments with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to inform the annual Special 301 Review. The Congressionally-mandated Review highlights foreign countries, laws, policies, and practices that fail to protect and enforce intellectual property rights adequately and effectively. The Alliance’s comments focused on proposals for expanded text and data mining (TDM) exceptions around the world that undermine American IP and creative industries. In particular, the comments discussed developments in Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, and Vietnam. The comments also called on the Administration to correct the common misconception that American copyright is an opt-out system, as well as to resist proposals to weaken existing IP protections in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The comments also highlighted the importance of voluntary licensing, noting concerns over India’s proposed compulsory license scheme. Read the full comments here.
