Intellectual Property Council Issues Its Annual Report to President and Congress

(STOP! is the Bush Administration's initiative for protecting intellectual property (IP) worldwide which provides the guiding principles for the Administration to accomplish numerous goals on behalf of U.S. rightsholders, both domestically and internationally, and institutes coordination within the federal government among the agencies of NIPLECC.

NIPLECC is composed of the five federal agencies involved in IP enforcement: the Commerce Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, the State Department, and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.)

FY 2007 Yielded Record Increases in IP Investigations, Etc.

NIPLECC's report notes that FY 2007 yielded record increases in IP-related investigations and prosecutions, an increase in the value of seized counterfeit and pirated merchandise at borders, enhanced border enforcement, increased emphasis on the annual Special 301 Review, expanded engagement within the World Trade Organization in an attempt to resolve IP-related trade disputes, the launch of a major multilateral anti-counterfeiting initiative, deepened bilateral and multilateral relationships with foreign countries, and redoubled focus by all agencies on the public health and safety implications of counterfeit goods.

NIPLECC Outlines Priorities for STOP! Initiative in FY 2008

NIPLECC states that in order to expand and strengthen IP enforcement through the STOP! Initiative in FY 2008, it will focus on the following specific priorities:

NIPLECC to increase protection for small/medium enterprises. NIPLECC will increase focus on IP protection for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) by continuing to develop and market programs to help them protect and enforce their IP at home and abroad; as well as seeking to identify sources to assist in financing foreign IP registrations and evaluating assets through IPR audits; and expanding outreach programs to SMEs and the public.

DHS to increase efforts to seize goods at the border. DHS will continue to expand the use of the innovative techniques such as risk modeling and IPR audits to supplement activities at the border and employ a layered approach to IP enforcement; continue to work internationally with like-minded partners to enforce IP globally; focus efforts on high-priority targets that have health, safety and security concerns; and continue to develop and expand investigative techniques to maximize international partnerships with foreign law enforcement counterparts.

Justice Dept. to pursue criminal enterprises. The Justice Department will continue to develop more multi-district and international IP prosecutions and investigations; aggressively pursue organized international crime groups that traffic in stolen and counterfeit IP, especially those groups committing offenses that threaten public health and safety; reduce IP theft through increased support to, and coordination with, international trading partners; and focus efforts on targeted developing economies and countries posing especially strong challenges to U.S. business competitiveness.

NIPLECC to increase hotline service, outreach programs, etc. NIPLECC will continue to increase the activity and services of the STOP! Hotline; conduct more outreach across the country to better inform businesses of all the government resources available for IP education and protection; and expand partnerships with industry to support global engagements on IP enforcement.

NIPLECC to work toward agreement, commitments w/trading partners. NIPLECC will continue to work toward the completion of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement; execute and build upon the strong commitments to IP enforcement made within certain international forums; continue working to promote and improve IP protection and enforcement in key countries such as China and Russia; help developing countries establish effective systems to protect and promote innovation; provide funding for government-to-government foreign law enforcement-related training and technical assistance projects to combat IP crime in selected developing countries; create a long-term strategic training plan to better leverage the U.S. government IP training and capacity building resources and increase coordination among NIPLECC agencies.

NIPLECC report (dated January 2008) available at http://www.commerce.gov/s/groups/public/@doc/@os/@opa/documents/content/prod01_005189.pdf

Commerce fact sheet (dated 02/11/08) available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_005188

Commerce press release (dated 02/11/08) available at http://www.commerce.gov/NewsRoom/PressReleases_FactSheets/PROD01_005190