Kirk Watson: “today is a great day for the protection of intellectual property rights in America and around the world. The U.S.…”

“today is a great day for the protection of intellectual property rights in America and around the world. The U.S.- Australia Free Trade Agreement, of which I am a strong supporter, serves as a great testament to our Nation's commitment in safeguarding and strengthening the rights of intellectual property holders. I strongly urge my colleagues to support this bill. Australia and the United States have long had a strong relationship, be it economically, politically, and culturally. In addition to nearly $60 billion invested in the United States by Australian companies, two- way trade between the two countries is currently at over $28 billion per year and growing. The U.S.-Australia agreement before us today would further strengthen these economic ties by expanding market access for the distribution of U.S. entertainment products and by setting the highest standards of copyright protection for the modern digital age. For example, among many of its outstanding provisions, the Agreement would establish strong anti-circumvention provisions to prohibit tampering with copyright protection technologies.”