Ontario Chamber of Commerce Calls For Greater IP Protection

by Mike Godfrey, Tax-News.com, Washington

04 December 2007

In a report published on Monday, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce has called on the provincial government to get involved in what has traditionally been considered a federal issue.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce argues in "Protection of Intellectual Property: A Case for Ontario", that piracy and counterfeiting transcend jurisdiction, and must be addressed through the collaboration of all stakeholders: government, industry and consumers. In fact, the report contends that the Ontario government has a responsibility to play a key role in the issue.

According to figures contained in the report, piracy and counterfeiting have been estimated to cost the Canadian economy $22.5 billion, which would translate into a $9 billion problem for Ontario.

"Based on conservative estimates, a $9 billion loss to Ontario's economy is robbing the province of $1.6 billion in lost tax revenue, and about 50,000 jobs," observed Len Crispino, President & CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.

He continued:

"Add the negative impacts on Ontario's attractiveness to investors, ability to foster innovation and the potential damage to trading relations with our largest trading partner, the United States, and the province is compelled to act."

The report outlines a series of recommendations including that:

• The Federal and Provincial governments establish an IP Crime Task Force and an IP Inter-ministerial Coordination Council;
• The Federal government strengthen the IP protection legislative framework by, among other things, criminalizing trademark counterfeiting and the intentional manufacture, reproduction, distribution, importation or sale of counterfeit products;
• The Federal and provincial governments provide additional funding and training to the Canada Border Services Agency, police, Crown Attorneys and judges to enhance IPR Protection;
• Businesses adopt the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy Supply Chain Toolkit; and,
• All stakeholders work together to generate greater public awareness concerning the impact of counterfeiting and piracy on public health and safety, and the economy.

The publication of the report was welcomed by various sections of the business community, with Randy Lennox, President and CEO of Universal Music Canada, observing that:

"Today's weak rules against counterfeiting and piracy harm all sectors of Ontario's economy by discouraging investment in innovation. The Chamber's report makes a powerful case for stronger IP protection in Ontario, where we urgently need measures to drive innovation and improve our competitiveness."

"International best practices clearly demonstrate a direct correlation between the protection of IP rights and the level of investment in IP industries. The Chamber is on the right track here and is to be congratulated."

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