Victoria Espinel has set to work on her colossal task of better coordinating IP enforcement across US government departments, with key stakeholders demanding increased government transparency and closer cooperation between agencies and industry. <?xml:namespace prefix = o />

Brand owners are naturally in favour of Espinel's approach in designing a Joint Strategic Plan, as poor coordination on IP enforcement matters has long plagued industry's efforts to tackle counterfeiting and piracy. But the question as to whether a robust plan can be drawn up and then implemented remains.

"The creation of the Joint Strategic Plan is undoubtedly Espinel’s primary focus right now," Rob Calia, director of counterfeiting and piracy at the Global IP Centre, an affiliate of the US Chamber of Commerce, told WTR.

The U.S. government wants the public's help as it puts together the nation's first-ever intellectual property enforcement strategy to reduce infringement both at home and abroad.

The Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator published a notice in the Federal Register on Tuesday seeking public comment on the new strategy, which is required by the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008.

Some groups already have a head start. Earlier in February, the U.S.

The White House wants the public's help in crafting a national intellectual property enforcement strategy.

Victoria Espinel, the new White House intellectual property enforcement coordinator, is charged with putting together a strategy to help protect America's innovation and creativity from falling seize to piracy and counterfeiting.

The strategy was mandated by the Pro IP Act passed by Congress in 2008, which also created Espinel's position. She's been in the job less than 3 months.

According to a notice in the Federal Register today, Espinel is looking for input on ways to decrease the supply of counterfeit goods both in the U.S. and overseas.

Without better coordination of government resources, theft of U.S. goods through piracy is likely to get worse, Vice President Joe Biden said Tuesday at a gathering of White House officials and media and technology executives.

"They're stealing it. It offends me," Biden said. Participants at the roundtable gathered to discuss how to protect the country's innovations from counterfeiting and piracy.<?xml:namespace prefix = o />

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said the protection of intellectual property is a top priority for the Justice Department. Criminal investigations are occurring inside the U.S. and abroad, he said.

"This is a problem that the United States cannot solve by itself," Holder said. "We want to confront these nations, quite frankly, where too much of this occurs," Holder said.

U.S.

Just last week, the Senate confirmed Victoria Espinel as the first-ever U.S. intellectual property enforcement coordinator. This position was created by the bipartisan PRO-IP Act, which became law last year, and assigned the heavy task of improving enforcement and promoting intellectual property rights in the United States and abroad.

This position carries great historical as well as political significance, and it is the result of forward-looking leaders who recognized the increasing importance intellectual property plays in America’s competitiveness and economic growth. Strong and enforced IP rights not only incentivize and protect the innovation and creativity that drive human progress, they also provide the legal framework under which these “creations of the mind” are shared with others to advance our common knowledge.

Congress and the Obama administration have shown a clear willingness to defend and promote IP rights around the world.

The Senate late Thursday confirmed Victoria Espinel to be the nation's first-ever intellectual property enforcement coordinator, a position that will be housed in the White House.

She most recently served as the founder and president of the nonprofit Bridging the Innovation Divide and also has served as a visiting professor at George Mason University Law School, focusing on intellectual and international trade. In addition, Espinel has worked as an intellectual property adviser to the Senate Judiciary and Finance committees and the House Judiciary and Ways and Means committees. During the Bush administration, Espinel was chosen to be the nation's first assistant U.S. trade representative for intellectual property and innovation.

Mark Esper, executive vice president of the U.S.

Esper Hails Decision as Historic Step in Recognizing Importance of America’s Innovative Economy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today commended the U.S. Senate for the confirmation of Victoria Espinel as the first U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC). Dr. Mark T. Esper, executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center, issued the following statement regarding the confirmation:

“We warmly welcome the Senate’s swift action to confirm Victoria Espinel as our first U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC.) In this position, Ms. Espinel has the opportunity to improve enforcement and promotion of IP rights in the U.S. and abroad. Her extensive background and expertise in these areas will be crucial as she works to protect the creative and innovative industries that help drive our economic growth.