Verbatim report of proceedings

Wednesday, 10 November 2021 - Brussels

An intellectual property action plan to support the EU’s recovery and resilience (short presentation)

  Victor Negrescu (S&D), in writing. – The analysis in the Commission’s Action Plan on Intellectual Property highlights the importance of intangible assets such as trademarks, designs, patents and data in today’s knowledge-based economy, especially with regard to job creation, economic growth and the higher remuneration of employees. Creators’ and inventors’ remuneration should be protected from ‘buy-out’ contracts by big platforms, while not blocking innovation. This is why the European Parliament calls for the strengthening of intellectual property rights in a way that contributes to the social and sustainable development of the EU. Better employment, better salaries, more stability and resilience, especially for SMEs seizing on the potential of their intellectual property, represents an important link between intellectual property rights and social policy. We need to create an EU toolbox against piracy and counterfeiting in order to ensure coordinated action between intellectual property rights’ owners, intermediaries and public authorities. The Action Plan on Intellectual Property also needs to ensure proper and equitable access to medicines and medical treatments, including during health crises by resorting to voluntary or mandatory licensing in use of the WTO’s TRIPS Agreement.