What's New Archive

Law Enforcement Takes Action Against Counterfeit Cisco Systems Hardware.
Officials from the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Royal Canadian Mounted Police recently announced results from an ongoing international enforcement initiative between the United States and Canada that targets the illegal distribution of counterfeit network hardware manufactured in China. This ongoing operation has resulted in more than 400 seizures of counterfeit Cisco network hardware and labels having an estimated retail value of more than $76 million. It is being led by ICE, CBP and the FBI working in conjunction with DOJ’s Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS). (Full Press Release)

U.S. Customs and European Commission Tax & Customs Directorate Announce Results of "Operation Infrastructure."
The United States’ Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the European Union’s Tax and Customs Directorate (TAXUD) announced the final results from Operation Infrastructure conducted from November to December 2007. Operation Infrastructure is the first joint operation focused specifically on protecting intellectual property carried out by CBP and TAXUD. This collaborative effort resulted in the seizure of over 360,000 counterfeit integrated circuits and computer network components bearing over 40 different trademarks. This operation is a direct outcome from the highly successful dialogue developed through the U.S.-EU IP Working Group. (Full Press Release).

2008 NIPLECC Report to the President and Congress.
U.S. Coordinator for International Intellectual Property Enforcement Chris Israel released the 2008 NIPLECC Report to the President and Congress at an event on Capitol Hill. Representatives from the NIPLECC Agencies, Congressional Staff, and industry participated in the release of the Report. The 2008 Report highlights the successful coordination across the U.S. Government to protect and enforce intellectual property around the world.(Press Release)

Deputy Coordinator Addresses the 4th Global Congress to Combat Counterfeiting and Piracy.
Deputy U.S. Coordinator for International Intellectual Property Enforcement, Wayne Paugh, announced the upcoming release of the 2008 NIPLECC Report to the President and Congress at the Fourth Global Congress to Combat Counterfeiting and Piracy in Dubai, UAE. Mr. Paugh announced the upcoming Report and addressed the Congress detailing the U.S. Government’s coordinated efforts to combat counterfeiting and piracy. The Global Congress’s key objective is to promote and enhance best practices and information sharing among and between enforcement agencies, the judiciary, policy makers and the private sector to improve the protection and enforcement of IP worldwide.

Small & Medium Sized Business On-line IP Education Course.
The U.S. Coordinator for International Intellectual Property Enforcement has launched a new on-line training tool designed to educate Small & Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) on how to protect their IP. The SME Tutorial allows businesses to educate themselves on a range of important issues from the basic definition of the various types of IP, to more detailed analysis of the processes and tools available to protect their assets. The Department of Commerce partnered with the Small Business Administration to develop this program tailored to aide American SMEs. The tutorial is available to everyone on Stopfakes.gov.

U.S. Coordinator Testifies for Senate Judiciary Committee.
The U.S. Coordinator for International Intellectual Property Enforcement, Chris Israel, testified before the Senate Judiciary committee about U.S. Government efforts to protect intellectual property rights and significant milestones achieved by the Bush Administration (STOP! Milestones). Joining Mr. Israel was Kevin O’Connor, Chief of Staff for U.S. Department of Justice, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Chris Moore. All three highlighted the successful efforts to protect IP from the various agencies across the government. (Coordinator’s Testimony) (DOJ Testimony) (State Testimony)

U.S. Trade Representative Launches Negotiations for an Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement.
U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Susan Schwab launched efforts to begin negotiations on an Anti-counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). Ambassador Schwab was joined by Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle. ACTA will be a landmark agreement for nations who take theft of intellectual property seriously. The agreement will bring together a group of countries who recognize the importance of IP and are dedicated to protecting the works of innovators and entrepreneurs. In the beginning, negotiating partners will include the European Union, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United States. (USTR Press Release) (Commerce’s Secretary Gutierrez Statement Applauding ACTA)

Deputy U.S. Coordinator for International IP Enforcement Addresses Licensing Executives Society (LES) Annual Meeting.
The Deputy U.S. Coordinator for International IP Enforcement Wayne Paugh delivered remarks during the opening plenary session of the LES Annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada. Paugh’s remarks focused on the coordinated approach the U.S. Government takes in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy. LES is a professional society comprised of over 6,000 members engaged in the use and protection of intellectual property. The LES membership includes a wide range of professionals, including business executives, lawyers, licensing consultants, engineers, academicians, scientists and government officials. (Presentation)

The Sixth Annual Ambassador’s Roundtable on Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in China.
Ambassador to China Clark Randt will host the 6th Annual Ambassador’s Roundtable on IPR at the Grand Hyatt in Beijing, China. This is an opportunity for U.S. companies to spend a day with the Ambassador, and hear from industry and trade association representatives with in depth knowledge and experience on handling IP protection and enforcement issues in China. The Roundtable discussion will also include senior U.S. Government officials including the U.S. Coordinator for International IP Enforcement Chris Israel, and the Under Secretary for Patent and Trademarks Jon Dudas. (Event Details)

Secretary Gutierrez to Address the Fourth Annual Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Summit at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
On October 3, Secretary Gutierrez will deliver remarks to the 4th Annual Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Summit hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C. The Summit will address the effects counterfeiting and piracy has on consumer health and safety, how it affects small business, the impact to the economy, and how owners can protect their IP in the global marketplace. (Event Details)

U.S.-EU Intellectual Property Working Group (IPWG) Meets in Washington, D.C.
On September 20-21, the U.S.-EU IPWG met in Washington for its fourth meeting since being created in November 2005. The group met with industry representatives from a wide range of European and U.S. companies at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the first day of meetings. The following day the two Governments met to discuss outcomes from the previous days meetings and to develop a working plan for future actions.

USPTO Program on Protecting Intellectual Property China.
On September 19-20, the Department of Commerce’s USPTO will host a free, two-day, seminar for businesses in Kansas City, Missouri. This program is designed to help businesses learn about protecting their intellectual property from theft within China. During the two-day program experts from the private sector in the U.S. and China and from the United States Government will provide comprehensive information on protecting and enforcing intellectual property rights in China. China was the number one source of counterfeit products seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in 2006, accounting for 81 percent of all seizures. To sign up for this limited program click on the link in the program brochure. (Program Brochure)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Release Mid-Year Review Seizure Statistics for Intellectual Property (IP) Violations.
In the first half of FY 2007 CBP has reported a 141% increase in value of seized counterfeit and fake goods. This increase is accompanied by a 22% increase in the number of seizures; from the same period of mid-year FY’06. In the release CBP outlines the goods seized and highlights the origin of the fake products captured as they attempted to enter the U.S. supply chains. (Full Report Here)

Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) Leaders Announce Intellectual Property (IP) Action Plan.
In Montebello, Canada, Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and President Bush met and discussed the importance of protecting our intellectual property, to promote innovation and strong economic growth. During the summit, the leaders released the IP Action Plan which was developed by the three governments in collaboration with industry.(IP Action Plan)

U.S. Coordinator for Intellectual Property Enforcement Releases 3rd Quarter Report on IP Enforcement Initiatives.
On July 25, the U.S. Coordinator for IP Enforcement Chris Israel released a report for FY’07 3rd quarter detailing the efforts across the U.S. Government. The report highlights a calendar of events for IP related training, ongoing efforts with our trading partners, and lists details for interagency coordination, and recent cases and investigations. (Full Report)

Joint Investigations Leads to 25 Arrests and Seizure of Half Billion Dollars in Counterfeit Goods.
Operation “Summer Solstice”, a joint investigation conducted by the FBI and authorities with the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has resulted in multiple arrests and the seizure of more than a half billion dollars worth of counterfeit software.  Law enforcement officials in both countries worked closely to jointly investigate counterfeiters who manufactured and distributed counterfeit software products around the world. (Read More)

9 defendants in New York, New Jersey and California charged with conspiracy to smuggle over 950 shipments of merchandise into the U.S.
On June 26, in Brooklyn, NY, twenty-nine defendants were charged with conspiracy to smuggle fake and counterfeit goods, into the United States from China valued at approximately $700 Million dollars. These charges are a direct result of a 19 month long investigation led by the Department of Homeland Securities Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement divisions. The work of these law enforcement agencies resulted in arrests of twenty-nine people in three states ranging from New York to California. (Full Press Release)

U.S. IP Enforcement Coordinator Leads Security & Prosperity Partnership IP Working Group.
Cancun, Mexico (June 25-26, 2007) - The U.S. Coordinator for International Intellectual Property Enforcement Chris Israel led a delegation of U.S. Officials to meet with their counterparts in the Governments of Mexico and Canada to discuss cooperation between the governments and industry on a range of intellectual property enforcement issues, including detection and deterrence of fake goods; public awareness and educational outreach; and measurement techniques. (SPP Background)

Protecting Your Intellectual Property in China Seminar.
On July 23-24, 2007, the Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will host a two day seminar on protecting intellectual property in China. The program is a free two-day seminar for businesses executives and is being held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. During the two-day seminar in Philadelphia, intellectual property (IP) experts from the private sector and the United States Government will provide comprehensive information on protecting and enforcing intellectual property in China for companies of any size, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises. (More Information)

U.S. Coordinator for IP Protection Recognizes Efforts of CACP.
June 14, 2007 – Today the U.S. Coordinator for International Intellectual Property Enforcement Chris Israel released a statement addressing the new campaign launched by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP). Israel said: “We welcome the significant leadership shown by the U.S. Chamber, the CACP and all of their members, and we look forward to continuing to work with them to expand and strengthen our efforts to protect U.S. intellectual property.” (Full Statement)

Statement on OECD Report Executive Summary.
June 5, 2007 – Today the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) announced the summary of its upcoming report on intellectual property theft. The U.S. Coordinator for International Intellectual Property Enforcement released the following statement on OECD’s announcement. “This OECD report represents a constructive step in understanding the magnitude and scope of counterfeiting and piracy that governments, industry and consumers are facing every day. (Full Statement)

U.S. Chamber and USPTO Announce Detroit Roadshow.
The USPTO in conjunction with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce will hold the Second IP Roadshow for 2007 in Detroit, Michigan. The roadshow seminars are designed to help small businesses learn the risks of counterfeiting and piracy and what they can do to protect their intellectual property. (More)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) signs Deal with China to Strengthen Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights.
U.S. CBP recently signed a deal with China’s General Administration of Customs to strengthen the enforcement of IPR protection. The agreement will provide exchange of information between the two customs organizations. This agreement was reached coinciding with the second meeting of the U.S.-China Strategic Economic Dialogue.(Read More)

USPTO to Hold Small Business Seminar in Raleigh, North Carolina, June 13, 2007.
The USPTO is joining forces with the United States Chamber of Commerce and the state of North Carolina to hold a free conference on counterfeiting and piracy on June 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will be held at the McKinnon Center on the campus of North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Jon Dudas, Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property will speak along with North Carolina Secretary of State, Elaine Marshall and Ron Calia, Senior Manager Global Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Initiative, U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
(Register Here)

Administration Updates U.S. Chamber of Commerce on IPR Enforcement Efforts.
Washington, D.C. (May 14) – Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez met with senior business leaders about steps being taken to crack down on the theft of intellectual property. Attorney General Gonzales announced a new legislation package the Department of Justice is sending to Congress which enhances the tools available to Federal prosecutors. Secretary Gutierrez also discussed how the protection of our intellectual property rights (IPR) is essential to America’s economic growth and our ability to create higher paying jobs. (Read More)

April 30, 2007 – Today, President Bush met with German Chancellor and European Union (EU) President Angela Merkel and European Commission President José Barroso at the White House for the annual U.S.-EU summit. The Summit is an opportunity to discuss the strategic partnership our governments share and to explore ways to continue expanding our cooperation across a broad range of economic, foreign policy, and security issues. At the 2006 Summit, the Leaders announced an Action Strategy for the protection of intellectual property. At today’s Summit, they released the 2007 Action Strategy that includes results from initiatives undertaken in 2006, as well as goals for the upcoming year. (Action Strategy Memo)

President Bush Highlights Significance of Intellectual Property Rights Protection.
April 26, 2007 – Today President Bush released a message highlighting the importance of intellectual property rights to the U.S. economy. Recognizing the critical role of enforcing IP around the world President Bush said “World Intellectual Property Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of enhancing the integrity of our economy. My Administration continues to make protecting the ideas of our citizens a top priority.”

April 26, 2007 – At an event celebrating World IP Day, Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez addressed a reception held in the Rayburn House Office Building. In his remarks, Secretary Gutierrez highlighted the importance of protecting IPR, and enforcing existing IP laws, and the role IP plays in enhancing the strength of the U.S. economy. The event was sponsored by the Washington, D.C. bureau of WIPO and the Creative and Innovative Economy Center of the George Washington University Law School. Members of Congress Robert Wexler, Diane Watson, and Tom Feeney hosted the event at the Capitol.

April 24, 2007 – Today the U.S. Coordinator for International IP Enforcement Chris Israel released the new Quarterly Enforcement Report. The Coordinator’s office developed this report in the first quarter of 2007 as a way to efficiently capture and update the IP enforcement activities of the U.S. Government. This is a supplement to the annual report to the President and Congress. (Click here for the full report)

April 11, 2007 – In coordination with France’s National Institute for Intellectual Property, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, DOC hosted an event to discuss the role of consumers in the global fight against counterfeiting and piracy. Click here for important but simple steps consumers can take to keep their homes and businesses safe from fakes.

On Wednesday, January 24, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP) released the No Trade in Fakes Supply Chain Tool Kit. This important document showcases many proven strategies that companies both small and large use to protect their supply chains from counterfeiters and modern-day pirates. (More)

International Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Advisory Program launched to provide U.S. businesses with access to free, expert guidance on how to protect their intellectual property in five foreign markets (More)

Today the Bush Administration released the 2006 Report to the President and Congress on Coordination of Intellectual Property Enforcement and Protection. The report sets forth the actions and initiatives that the U.S. government has taken over the past year to combat the rising tide of global counterfeiting and piracy, and notes the importance of these efforts because of the critical role intellectual property (IP) plays in the country’s economic strength and the health and safety of consumers. (Press Release) (Full Report) - Friday, September 29, 2006

Recognizing the importance of supply chain security for fighting international counterfeiting and piracy, the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP) has developed a tool kit of "Supply Chain Best Practice Guidelines" that companies in a variety of industry sectors are using to improve their internal systems. (More)

Department of Justice Intellectual Task Force Progress Report: Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales highlighted the results of the Progress Report of the Department of Justice’s Intellectual Property Task Force at the United States Chamber of Commerce’s Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy program today. He specifically announced that the Task Force has fully implemented all 31 recommendations contained in its 2004 report, and in some cases, went well beyond those recommendations. Read the Press Release, Attorney General's Statement and Progress Report.

Intellectual Property Rights Training Program: USTDA approved $383,000 for an intellectual property rights (IPR) training program for officials from China's General Administration of Customs (GAC). This training program follows a previous USTDA-funded program entitled Trade Capacity Building and Customs Modernization in China, also with GAC. The success of the previous USTDA program prompted GAC to request additional technical assistance specifically on IPR issues. GAC is responsible for targeting and inspecting containers leaving China, and part of their mission is limiting shipments of counterfeit goods. This training program is intended to help reduce the amount of these shipments by upgrading the training of GAC's inspectors. Read the Press Release.

Secretary of Commerce Carlos M. Gutierrez of the United States and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai of Japan confirmed on March 30 their intent to enhance bilateral cooperation on IPR protection and enforcement and other issues. US-Japan Cooperation Statement.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)announces the implementation of the Intellectual Property Rights e-Recordation (IPRR) online system. This new system will allow right holders to electronically file IPR recordation applications, thus significantly reducing the amount of time required to process paper applications.

The U.S.-E.U. Working Group on Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement held its first meeting on January 26-27, 2006 to begin planning strategies for closer cooperation between the United States and EU on intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement issues.
(more info)

Department of State Issues Guide to Intellectual Property Rights.

Trade Fair Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Roundtable
12/05/05

Hear it for yourself. On Thursday, November 10, the National Chamber Foundation and the Chamber hosted a half-day event, the "Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Summit: STOPing the Theft." Symbol indicates that you are leaving this site.
11/10/05

How the STOP Initiative is Expanding its Efforts
11/10/05

Secretary Gutierrez announces new China Intellectual Property Rights Advisory Program for SMEs to receive a free one hour legal consultation on protecting IPR in China
11/10/05

DOC and SBA strengthen ties to help SMEs protect their innovations at home and abroad
11/10/05

"Protect Your Intellectual Property: Stop Trade in Fakes!"
11/10/05

"Prepared Remarks for Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales at the U.S. Chamber Of Commerce ”Stop'ing the Fakes” Anti-counterfeiting Summit"
11/10/05

"Commerce Department Launches IPR Advisory Program"
11/10/05

"USG Urges Arizona's Businesses to Protect Their Intellectual Property from Theft Overseas"
7/18/05

"U.S. Expands Outreach in Campaign to STOP! Trade in FakesAdvances Global Outreach to STOP! Trade in Fakes"
6/6/05

"U.S. Advances Global Outreach to STOP! Trade in Fakes"
4/11/05

"Attorney General John Ashcroft announces recommendations of the Justice Department's Intellectual Property Task Force"
10/12/04

"Strategy targeting organized piracy cracks down on pirates who steal from american workers"
10/4/04

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Spotlights