In June 2007, the CACP released the Campaign to Protect America, an extensive set of recommendations to help our government reduce counterfeiting and piracy. Many proposals from the Campaign to Protect America were subsequently reflected in the Prioritizing Resources And Organization For Intellectual Property Act Of 2008, or PRO-IP Act  (P.L. 110-403), which was signed into law in October 2008 and represents a critical step in helping the federal government better fight counterfeiting and piracy.

The CACP has continued to urge the U.S. Government to fully implement the PRO-IP Act through the following:

• Implementation of National IP Enforcement Strategy—In June 2010, pursuant to the PRO-IP Act, the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) released America’s first-ever National IP Enforcement Strategy, marking a major step forward in our efforts to combat counterfeiting and piracy. The strategy was unveiled by Vice President Biden, and the event spoke volumes about the plan’s importance to the American economy. On February 7, 2011, the IPEC released her Annual Report on Intellectual Property Enforcement.
• Continued Funding for IP Enforcement at the Federal, State, and Local Levels—Since the PRO-IP Act was signed into law, the CACP has helped secure funds for new FBI agents to investigate IP cases, for U.S. Attorneys to prosecute them, and for federal grants to enable state and local law enforcement assistance in addressing IP crimes. Most recently, in September 2010, DOJ announced almost $4 million of awards to state, local, and tribal IP enforcement agencies and prosecutors. We will continue to advocate for funding of these programs.

The CACP will continue to work with the Administration and Congress to ensure that all elements of the PRO-IP Act are implemented and adequately funded.

RESOURCES:

• 2010 U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Annual Report on Intellectual Property Enforcement
• National IP Enforcement Strategy
• PRO-IP Act (P.L. 110-403)
• Letter to the President regarding IPEC from the House sponsors of S. 3325
• Letter to the President regarding IPEC from the Senate sponsors of S. 3325
• Letter to Appropriation Committee Members from the National Association of Attorneys General
• Press Release: September 26, 2008 – Chamber Commends Senate
• View final text of S. 3325
• Laura Tyson Report – Economic Analysis of the Campaign to Protect America