January 23, 2009

U.S. Chamber Releases IP Protection and Enforcement Manual


Guide Outlines Ways Businesses Can Protect Their Consumers and Brands

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) today released its “Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement Manual,” a publication designed to help businesses protect their consumers and brands. The manual features case studies on the proven strategies companies are implementing to protect their creative assets from criminal counterfeiting and piracy.

“Our nation’s intellectual property system is designed to support job creation in innovative industries, while ensuring the inventions consumers use are authentic, safe and effective,” said GIPC Executive Vice President Mark T. Esper. “The theft of protected ideas threatens jobs, consumer health and safety, and damages the reputations of companies that make products consumers depend on.”

The “Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement Manual: A Practical and Legal Guide for Protecting Your Intellectual Property Rights” highlights best practices being utilized by the world’s leading companies and associations, including ABRO Industries Inc., Altria Group, Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, Epson America, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co. Inc., Microsoft, the National Basketball Association, NBC Universal, New Balance, Purdue Pharma LP, True Religion Brand Jeans, Unilever and Xerox. The manual was sponsored by the Chamber’s GIPC, KPMG LLP and Arnold & Porter LLC, and is available at www.theglobalipcenter.com.

“The Chamber’s intellectual property protection manual will serve as a useful tool for the millions of companies and workers that comprise America’s innovative sectors and are committed to consumer safety first and foremost,” Esper said.

America’s IP-intensive industries employ nearly 18 million workers.  These innovative sectors account for more than $5 trillion of the U.S. gross domestic product, comprise more than half of all U.S. exports and represent 40% of U.S. economic growth.

The Chamber’s Global Intellectual Property Center is working around the world to champion IP 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 more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector and region.


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