U.S. Chamber lays out plan for combating piracy
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP) on Thursday detailed plans for a campaign to transform the enforcement of U.S. intellectual property rights laws.
“American innovation, jobs and consumer health and safety are being hijacked by organized counterfeiting and piracy crooks and law enforcement resources are inadequate to stop them,” said Tom Donohue, president and chief executive officer of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in a statement. “Intellectual property theft is seen as a low-risk, high reward crime in America and it is time to put an end to this by dedicating the law enforcement resources at all levels to put these networks out of business.”
At a press conference in Washington, the chamber and other leaders of the CACP presented detailed recommendations to effectively address the growing problem of counterfeiting. The agenda outlined six specific goals:
* Increase resources at the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department.
* Strengthen enforcement at the borders.
* Toughen penalties.
* Improve federal government coordination.
* Reform civil and judicial process.
* Educate consumers.
Specific recommendations in the agenda include dedicated agents at Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, dedicated federal prosecutors and FBI agents to counterfeiting and piracy cases, and institutionalized positions within the DOJ and DHS to lead the departments’ enforcement efforts.
