<sod>{{update|date=September 2016}}<eod>
<sod>'''Investor-state dispute settlement''' ('''ISDS''') or '''investment court system''' ('''ICS''') is a system through which individual companies can sue countries for alleged discriminatory practices. The practice was made widely known through the [[Philip Morris v. Uruguay]] case, where the tobacco company [[Philip Morris]] sued [[Uruguay]] after having enacted strict laws aimed at promoting [[public health]]. ISDS is an instrument of [[international public law]] and provisions are contained in a number of [[Bilateral Investment Treaty|bilateral investment treaties]], in certain international [[trade treaty|trade treaties]], such as [[North American Free Trade Agreement|NAFTA]] (chapter 11), the widely criticized proposed: [[Trans-Pacific Partnership|TPP]] (chapters 9 and 28) and [[Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement|CETA]] (sections 3 and 4) agreements. ISDS is also found in [[international investment agreement]]s, such as the [[Energy Charter Treaty]]. If an investor from one country (the "home state") invests in another country (the "host state"), both of which have agreed to ISDS, and the host state violates the rights granted to the investor under [[public international law]], then that investor may bring the matter before an [[arbitral tribunal]]. <eod>