U.S. Chamber of Commerce names Huther to root out piracy

U.S. Chamber of Commerce names Huther to root out piracy    The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is ramping up its effort to combat global trade in counterfeit and pirated goods, naming Brad Huther to lead the initiative and pumping $2 million into overseas offices to draw attention to the problem.
   Huther joins the business organization from the International Intellectual Property Institute, where he worked as president to strengthen intellectual property systems around the world. Previously, Huther worked on intellectual property issues as special attach' to the World Intellectual Property Organization, senior advisor to the U.S. Department of Commerce, and as associate commissioner and chief financial officer at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
   “Combating counterfeiting and piracy is a top priority for the chamber,” said David Hirschmann, senior vice president, in a statement. Piracy costs U.S. companies $250 billion per year, he added.
   Last year the chamber launched an initiative to fight intellectual property theft by urging lawmakers to strengthen anti-counterfeiting laws, increase enforcement efforts, and work with international allies to focus attention on threats to legitimate trade.
   Now the chamber is expanding its effort to help U.S. businesses fight the problem in other countries. The chamber said it hired Rachel Ding to help manage the counterfeiting and piracy initiative, and has assembled a team of experts that will be based in China and Brazil. Ding recently worked in China for the Quality Brands Protection Committee.