For a country whose economy is driven by innovation and creativity, where IP-based industries employ 18 million Americans, account for nearly half of the exports and generate over $5 trillion of our GDP, America should be setting the gold standard for encouraging innovation and creativity. The reality is quite the opposite. As part of the GIPC Speaker Series, the U.S. Chamber today welcomed the honorable Paul R. Michel, recently retired Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. At the event, Judge Michel offered his view of America’s patent system and his recommendation to revitalize the innovation infrastructure as a critical element to foster our economic growth and global competitiveness. 

Entrenched in the black market industry, counterfeiting is no longer limited to the knockoffs of high-end designer handbags sold on city street corners. The creation and trafficking of counterfeit and pirated goods have become a lucrative business that hurts the American economy and destroys lives. Counterfeit goods are not safe, and they fail to live up to the quality of the brands they are knocking off. These goods are created by criminals who are looking to make a profit while harming consumers in the process. Performance of the product and the safety of the individual using it are of no concern to them–but it should be a concern for everyone else. Read more....