Trade & IP Unit
Economics & Deregulation / Trade & IP Unit
The purpose of the Trade and Intellectual Property Unit is to educate policymakers and the public about the value of intellectual property to Australia's economy, and the importance of expanding free trade across the world. Institute of Public Affairs publications have focused on developing the case for intellectual property, examining the significance of the 'fair trade' movement, and looking at looming treats to free trade.
Sub-topics of Trade & IP Unit
News
Plain packaging ploy likely to go up in smoke
Turning public debate from the failed emissions trading scheme to universally despised tobacco emissions is a media masterstroke from Kevin Rudd,...
Free Trade Brings Heaps of Benefits
It's five years since our free trade agreement with the US entered into force and the results are in: Australia has won. In the lead-up to January...
Why palm oil does not deserve its bad press
Recent campaigns against palm oil show non-governmental organisations are more interested in pandering to rich country donors than promoting...
Rudd Leaves Denmark with a Rotten Deal
To secure a Copenhagen Accord Kevin Rudd sold out Australia's long-term negotiating interests and accepted the full cost of any future climate...
A patent Copenhagen solution
India's negotiating position on intellectual property (IP) at the Copenhagen climate change conference might be good politics, but it's unlikely to...
It's the Poor Who'll Pay for Copenhagen's Circus
More people attend UN conferences than make a meaningful contribution, but even by UN standards delegates are describing the Copenhagen climate...
Publications
Plain packaging may require up to $3.4 billion taxpayer gift annually to big tobacco and film companies
"Bad anti-intellectual property laws by State and Federal Parliaments could require taxpayers to gift up to $3.4 billion per year in compensation to film companies and big tobacco for the loss of their trademarks", Director of the IP and Free...
Costly, ineffectual and protectionist carbon tariffs
Many developed country governments are in the process of negotiating for the introduction of carbon price signals to incentivise business and consumers to reduce their carbon footprint. Individual European countries and the European Union already...
Government Decision Ensures Book Readers Will Pay up to 32 Per Cent More
"Today's decision by the Rudd Government to keep parallel import restrictions on books will ensure consumers pay up to 32 per cent more than if they were scrapped," said Tim Wilson, Director of the Intellectual Property and Free Trade Unit at the...
