GIPC’s Elliot Welcomes IPEC Report Highlighting Need for Increased IP Enforcement and Awareness
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Mark Elliot, executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center, today released the following statement on the Obama Administration’s 2013 Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement:
“We welcome the effort by the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC), Victoria Espinel, to tackle the critical policy and enforcement areas addressed in this report. As a driving force behind 35 % of GDP and two thirds of all exports, the importance of protecting innovative industries that create high-paying jobs cannot be overstated.
“We are grateful for the focus the report brings to key issues such as strengthening enforcement mechanisms – both domestically and internationally, ensuring consumer safety, and raising public awareness of the importance of IP.
“We further commend IPEC for continuing to prioritize combating IP theft by ensuring that US government personnel overseas are effectively addressing IP protection and enforcement; confirming that international organizations, such as Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the World Customs Organizations, are playing a positive role in improving the enforcement of IP; and working with the other government agencies to utilize all trade policy tools in the toolbox to promote IP enforcement, including trade agreements and bilateral engagement.
“We are appreciative of the commitment it demonstrates to protecting IP through policies that foster the research, creative works and new technologies that have built jobs and continue to expand our economic strength.
“We look forward to working with the business community, and the Administration to continue this conversation and further develop and shape efforts to protect IP.”
The Chamber’s Global Intellectual Property Center is working around the world to champion intellectual property (IP) rights as vital to creating jobs, saving lives, advancing global economic growth, and generating breakthrough solutions to global challenges.
The U.S. Chamber is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.
