This study discusses how the Trans-Pacific Partnership’s intellectual property provisions would dramatically alter the balance between the interests of copyright owners and the users of protected goods and services.

It examines three key issues: the TPP’s extension of copyright terms by 20 years, its stricter rules against the circumvention of “digital locks,” and requirements stipulating how Internet service providers and hosts must deal with allegations of copyright infringement on their networks and sites. The TPP’s proposed approaches to these issues exceed international standards, pay short shrift to user interests and would require legislative changes in many countries including Canada.

The study concludes that the TPP, if ratified, could lead to millions of dollars in roy­alty payments being transferred out of Canada, the increased criminaliz­ation of copyright law, and a loss of policy flexibility for future Canadian copyright reforms.