IP blueprint outlined for Trump era
A blueprint for the work on intellectual property enforcement to be carried over the next three years in the US was published yesterday.
The White House’s Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) issued the US joint strategic plan on IP enforcement, outlining four primary goals for 2017-2019, when Donald Trump will be US president.
The goals are to enhance national understanding of the economic and social impacts flowing from the misappropriation of trade secrets and IP infringement; to promote a safe and secure internet by minimising counterfeiting and IP-infringing activity online; to secure and facilitate lawful trade; and to enhance domestic strategies and global collaboration in support of an effective IP regime.
Counterfeit and pirated goods must not be regarded “as simply a secondary enforcement concern”, according to the report.
This is because the “sophisticated networks”that move the goods undermine the rule of law and bring about “substantial health, security, and economic ramifications that extend well beyond any single shipment”.
“Each country should assess and reaffirm its commitment to the fight against illicit trade as a primary concern, while seeking to develop, update, and implement robust national policies that reflect this priority,”added the report.
IPEC recommended more efficient and effectivescreening operations at the border and the enhancement of the database for recording IP rights, where trademark and copyright owners can provide information on licensees and shipping channels.
It also plans to expand the use of IP task forces at the border within one year, with Customs and Border Protection producing a plan to expand task force use.
Engagement with the international community to consider measures to hold illicit traders accountable is also on IPEC’s list.
The US Interagency Strategy Planning Committees on IP Enforcement, along with other federal offices and agencies, will “consider opportunities for appropriate bilateral and multilateral dialogue”.
“It starts with an acknowledgement and celebration of the extraordinarily important role that the creative and innovative communities play in our cultural and economic lives,”said Daniel Marti, chair of the planning committees.
He added that that the creative and innovative communities support more than 45 million US jobs and more than 50% of exports, and incentivise “all forms of dynamic and enriching creative expression”.
