Who Can Help Me Protect My Intellectual Property?
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U.S. Government Intellectual Property Resources (Domestic)
The U.S. Copyright Office is responsible for registering copyright claims.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is responsible for granting and administering U.S. patents and trademarks.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigates criminal counterfeiting, piracy, and other federal crimes.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Computer Crimes and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) is responsible for implementing DOJ’s national strategies in combating computer and intellectual property crimes worldwide.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) keeps foreign pirated and counterfeit goods from being imported into the United States
U.S. Government Intellectual Property Resources (International)
The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center works to deter, interdict, and investigate threats arising from the movement of illegal goods into and out of the United States.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) investigates claims regarding intellectual property rights violations by imported goods, including allegations of patent and trademark infringement.
The USITC Trade Remedy Assistance Office (TRAO) provides information to small businesses concerning the remedies and benefits available under U.S. trade laws.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing negotiations with other countries.
The U.S. Commercial Service of the Department of Commerce offers comprehensive, customized solutions to U.S. companies’ international trade challenges and provides export promotion assistance through a variety of products and services.
The Office of Intellectual Property Rights (OIPR) of the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration works with U.S. firms to help them protect their intellectual property abroad.
Inter-Governmental Intellectual Property Resources
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
The United States is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) (www.apec.org), a forum of 21 member economies, which facilitates economic growth and trade in the Asia-Pacific region.
Interpol
The United States is a member of Interpol (www.interpol.int), a global police organization with 182 member countries, which facilitates cross-border police cooperation to prevent or combat crime, including intellectual property crimes.
World Customs Organization
The World Customs Organization (WCO) (www.wcoomd.org) aids the national economic wealth and social protection of its Members by promoting an honest, transparent and predictable Customs environment.
World Intellectual Property Organization
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (www.wipo.int) is an organization responsible for the administration of 23 international treaties dealing with intellectual property protection.
World Trade Organization
The United States is a Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) (www.wto.org), which is an international organization that sets the rules of trade between Member nations.
Private Sector Intellectual Property Resources (Domestic)
Association of American Publishers
The Association of American Publishers (AAP) is the national trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry. Intellectual property information: www.publishers.org/antipiracy/index.cfm.
Entertainment Software Association
The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) represents companies that publish video and computer games for video game consoles, personal computers and the Internet. Intellectual property information: www.theesa.com/ip/index.php.
Motion Picture Association of America
The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) advocates on behalf of the American motion picture, home video and television industries. Intellectual property information: www.mpaa.org/anti-piracy.
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) represents U.S. pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. Intellectual property information: www.phrma.org/issues/intprop.
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is the trade group that represents the U.S. recording industry. Intellectual property information: www.riaa.com/issues/piracy/default.asp.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s advocacy efforts on behalf of U.S. companies include obtaining increased intellectual property rights protection and enforcement actions with trading partners. Intellectual property information: www.thetruecosts.org/.
Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy
The Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP), made up of more than 120 companies and associations, is committed to increasing the understanding of the negative impact of counterfeiting and piracy by working with Congress and the administration to drive greater government-wide efforts to address this threat.” Intellectual Property Information: www.thecacp.org.
Private Sector Intellectual Property Resources (International)
Biotechnology Industry Organization
The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) represents biotechnology companies, academic institutions, state biotechnology centers and related organizations. Intellectual property information: www.bio.org/ip.
Business Software Alliance
The Business Software Alliance (BSA) is a global organization that advocates on behalf of the commercial software industry. Intellectual property information: www.bsa.org/usa/antipiracy.
International Anti-Countefeiting Coalition
The International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition (IACC) is the largest international organization devoted solely to combating product counterfeiting and piracy. Comprised of a cross section of business and industry - from autos, apparel, luxury goods, and pharmaceuticals, to food, book publishing, software and entertainment - the IACC's members' combined annual revenues exceed $650 billion. The IACC develops and conducts training for domestic and foreign law enforcement officials, submits comments on intellectual property enforcement laws and regulations in the United States and abroad and participates in regional and international programs aimed at improving intellectual property enforcement standards. For more information on the IACC please consult our website at www.iacc.org.
International Intellectual Property Alliance
The International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA) (www.iipa.com) is a coalition formed to represent the U.S. copyright-based industries in their efforts to improve international protection of copyrighted materials.
International Trademark Association
The International Trademark Association (INTA) (www.inta.org) is an association dedicated to the support and advancement of trademarks and related intellectual property.
Detailed Descriptions
The U.S. Copyright Office is responsible for registering copyright claims. For more information on U.S. copyrights contact: (202) 707-5959 or www.copyright.gov/help .
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is responsible for granting and administering U.S. patents and trademarks.
- For more information on filing for a trademark in the United States contact: 1-(800) 786-9199 or (703) 308-4357 or www.uspto.gov/main/trademarks.htm . To file with the USPTO electronically visit: www.uspto.gov/teas/index.html .
- The USPTO Inventors Assistance Center (IAC) (www.uspto.gov/web/offices/pac/dapp/pacmain.html) provides patent information and services to the public. The IAC is staffed by former Supervisory Patent Examiners and experienced Primary Examiners who answer general questions concerning patent examining policy and procedure.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigates criminal counterfeiting, piracy, and other federal crimes. You can report suspicions concerning the manufacture or sale of counterfeit or pirated goods to the FBI by contacting your local FBI Office and asking to speak with the Duty Complaint Agent. To obtain contact information for your local FBI office, you can call (202) 324-3000 or by visiting www.fbi.gov/contact/fo/fo.htm . If you suspect products for sale on the Internet are counterfeit or pirated, you can report your suspicions to the FBI Internet Fraud Complaint Center via the Internet. An electronic complaint form is available at www.ic3.gov.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section (CCIPS) is responsible for implementing DOJ's national strategies in combating computer and intellectual property crimes worldwide. The Computer Crime Initiative is a comprehensive program designed to combat electronic penetrations, data thefts, and cyberattacks on critical information systems. CCIPS prevents, investigates, and prosecutes computer crimes by working with other government agencies, the private sector, academic institutions, and foreign counterparts. Section attorneys work to improve the domestic and international infrastructure-legal, technological, and operational-to pursue network criminals most effectively. The Section's enforcement responsibilities against intellectual property crimes are similarly multi-faceted. Intellectual Property (IP) has become one of the principal U.S. economic engines, and the nation is a target of choice for thieves of material protected by copyright, trademark, or trade-secret designation. In pursuing all these goals, CCIPS attorneys regularly run complex investigations, resolve unique legal and investigative issues raised by emerging computer and telecommunications technologies; litigate cases; provide litigation support to other prosecutors; train federal, state, and local law enforcement personnel; comment on and propose legislation; and initiate and participate in international efforts to combat computer and intellectual property crime.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) keeps foreign infringing goods from being imported into the United States. Once a company has registered its trademark or copyright, it should record its registration with CBP. Contact: (202) 572-8710 , hqiprbranch@dhs.gov, or www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/import/commercial_enforcement/ipr/.
The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center works to protect the United States and its people by deterring, interdicting, and investigating threats arising from the movement of illegal goods into and out of the United States. Particular emphasis is given to investigating major criminal organizations and those using the Internet to facilitate IPR crime. If you suspect counterfeit goods are being imported into the United States, contact Phone: (202) 344-2410, (866) IPR-2060, (866) 477-2060, Fax: (202) 344-1920 or http://www.ice.gov/pi/cornerstone/ipr/index.htm.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) investigates claims regarding intellectual property rights violations by imported goods, including allegations of patent and trademark infringement. Section 337 declares it unlawful to import items that infringe utility and design patents, as well as registered and common law trademarks, and registered copyrights. USITC provides information on Section 337 at www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/int_prop/index.htm . USITC will conduct an investigation and if it determines that the imports violate Section 337, it may issue an exclusion order barring counterfeit or pirated products from entry into the United States, as well as a cease and desist order directing the violating parties to cease certain actions. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) enforces the exclusion orders.
USITC also has a Trade Remedy Assistance Office (TRAO) that provides information to small businesses concerning the remedies and benefits available under U.S. trade laws; and assists eligible small businesses in preparing and filing a Section 337 complaint. Information about the TRAO is available at www.usitc.gov/trade_remedy/trao or it can be reached by telephone at (800) 343-9822 or (202) 205-2200, or by fax at (202) 205-2139.
The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is responsible for developing and coordinating U.S. international trade, commodity, and direct investment policy, and overseeing negotiations with other countries. USTR publishes several reports that may be helpful to U.S. businesses with international suppliers or customers. The annual Special 301 Report identifies countries meriting bilateral attention to address IPR problems. The Special 301 Report and others can be found at: www.ustr.gov/Document_Library/Reports_Publications/Section_Index.html . The USTR maintains the Office of Small Business Affairs was created with the cooperation of the U.S. Small Business Administration to address small business concerns in the development, negotiation, and implementation of U.S. trade policy. More information is available at: www.ustr.gov/Trade_Sectors/Small_Business/Section_Index.html .
The U.S. Commercial Service of the Department of Commerce offers comprehensive, customized solutions to U.S. companies' international trade challenges and provides export promotion assistance through a variety of products and services. These include Country Commercial Guides that often include an overview of the IPR regime in individual foreign countries. Find a Commercial Service Export Assistance Center near you: 1-800-872-8723 or www.buyusa.gov/home/export.html . The Commercial Service and U.S Embassies abroad have created several country-specific IPR Toolkits that can be found at the bottom of the www.StopFakes.gov home page.
The Office of Intellectual Property Rights (OIPR) of the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Administration works with U.S. firms to help them protect their intellectual property abroad. Commerce experts can suggest strategies to evaluate IPR problems encountered abroad and will work with our Embassies around the world to pursue a course of action for resolution of the problems. In many cases, the U.S. government can provide companies with information to aid in navigating a foreign government's legal system, including lists of local investigative firms and attorneys, and share experiences and expertise in that country. However, the government cannot provide American companies with legal advice or advocate on a company's behalf when a matter is before a court or administrative agency. Companies can contact OIPR with complaints by telephone at (866) 999-HALT (4258) or hq-intranet04.ita.doc.gov/bid/stopfakes/ask_question.asp.
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation
The United States is a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) (www.apec.org), a forum of 21 member economies, which facilitates economic growth and trade in the Asia-Pacific region. The APEC Intellectual Property Rights Experts' Group (IPEG) (www.apecipeg.org/default.asp) coordinates and undertakes the work related to intellectual property rights.
APEC also encourages its members to create intellectual property rights service centers to provide information about protection of intellectual property rights. APEC's Intellectual Property Rights Service Center page can be found at www.apecipeg.org/servicecentres/default.asp .
The United States is a member of Interpol (www.interpol.int), a global police organization with 182 member countries, which facilitates cross-border police cooperation to prevent or combat crime, including intellectual property crimes. Information regarding Interpol's efforts to combat intellectual property-related crimes can be found at www.interpol.int/Public/FinancialCrime/IntellectualProperty/Default.asp .
The World Customs Organization (WCO) (www.wcoomd.org) aids the national economic wealth and social protection of its Members by promoting an honest, transparent and predictable Customs environment. Information on WCO's intellectual property protection efforts can be found at: www.wcoomd.org/ie/En/en.html .
World Intellectual Property Organization
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)(www.wipo.int) is an international organization dedicated to promoting and protecting intellectual property rights. The Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Division of WIPO features case studies and information on commercializing intellectual property (www.wipo.int/sme/en).
The United States is a Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) (www.wto.org), which is an international organization that sets the rules of trade between Member nations. The WTO's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) establishes minimum levels of protection that each Member must provide to the intellectual property rights of citizens of fellow Members. The TRIPS Agreement and information about the Agreement are available at www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/trips_e.htm.
All WTO Members are obligated to comply with TRIPS. A list of WTO Members can be found at www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/whatis_e/tif_e/org6_e.htm.