This client alert examines intellectual property proposals in the Trans-Pacific Partnership from the perspective of biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries.

On November 5, 2015, the U.S. trade representative’s office published the final text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP), including Chapter 18 containing the negotiated Intellectual Property provisions. Each party must still ratify the agreement, but in doing so, it has to abide by the framework described in the agreement save for several country-specific exceptions outlined in Article 18.83.4 and Annexes 18-A to 18-D. Below is list of important takeaways from the TPP, followed by a summary of its provisions as they apply to the patent rights of each party to the agreement.