Intellectual property right issues in the new Trade Bill

A discussion is presented of major features of ´The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1987´. Various provisions to strengthen the intellectual property protection afforded to US inventors and to the owners of US intellectual property rights are detailed. Such provisions include: simplifying the patent infringement proceedings under paragraph 337 of the Tariff Act; providing patent owners for the first time with a new cause of action for infringement of a US process patent; and requiring the US Trade Representative to initiate accelerated investigations of and impose sanctions against countries that deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights.<>