IP Dragon comments briefly on the EU’s position on the US filing of an IP-based WTO case against China. I think the ‘good cop-bad cop’ designation is appropriate insofar as the EU will definitely be playing the role of the good cop.

However, the usual ‘good cop-bad cop’ scenario has both cops working together to achieve the same goal. However, in this instance are the US and EU in concert or wouldn’t the US rather have the EU join in? I suspect the answer is yes.

The US is being roundly criticized by China, something which the Bush Administration, and their State Department, certainly doesn’t want. At the moment, the reaction from the Democratic Congress is more important than the indignation of the Chinese government. Having the EU take some of the heat, in effect internationalizing the problem, would have provided a small amount of cover over here.

At the same time, there is really no incentive here for the EU to provide that cover to the US. Although European companies have to deal with the same IP infringement issues that US companies suffer with, the EU can reap the benefits of the US cases (assuming there are any) while maintaining the ‘good cop’ image.

Nicely done, EU.