June 26: First Multilateral Treaty On Substantive Intellectual Property Since 1996 Signed By 60 Countries. Treaty Establishes Rights For International Actors, And Will Have A Major Impact On Actors From Developing Countries.

NEW YORK, June 26, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by Cardozo School of Law:

WHAT: Justin Hughes, a Cardozo School of Law Professor and Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property, led the U.S delegation at the World Intellectual Property Organization's (WIPO) Diplomatic Conference on the Protection of Audiovisual Performances in Beijing, China. The Diplomatic Conference successfully adopted the "Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances," the first multilateral treaty establishing substantive IP rights since 1996. The treaty will provide a platform for the harmonization of actors' rights globally.

Approximately 140 national delegations attended the diplomatic conference with over 40 – including the U.S. delegation headed by Hughes – having "full powers" to sign the treaty on behalf of their governments.

Professor Hughes is widely credited with resuscitating efforts for the treaty after major negotiation breakdowns occurred in both 1996 and 2000, the latter due to a standoff between the USA and India, on the one hand, and the European Union over transfer of economic rights from actors to producers.

"Although actors in the U.S. are well protected by collective bargaining, the treaty will help promote performers' rights in other countries," Hughes said. "As the film and television industries globalize and cross-border productions flourish, consistent protection will help performers. The Beijing Treaty is both an intellectual property treaty and a labor rights treaty."

WHO: Justin Hughes, Professor
Cardozo Law School

SOURCE Cardozo School of Law