U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2008)

The White House

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
October 13, 2008

Fact Sheet: Protecting American Innovation

President Bush Has Worked To Ensure That There Is A Level Playing Field Worldwide For American Businesses And Innovators, Free Of Counterfeiting And Piracy

Today, President Bush signed the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property (PRO IP) Act. This legislation helps protect the rights of America's consumers, workers, and entrepreneurs by strengthening both our civil and criminal laws against counterfeiting and piracy. Specifically, the Act increases statutory damage awards in civil counterfeiting cases, it strengthens remedies available in the prosecution of criminal cases involving counterfeiting and piracy, it enhances resources (personnel, training, and equipment) for Department of Justice programs that combat IP theft, and makes permanent the Administration's Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!) Initiative and its inter-agency IP coordination efforts. The PRO-IP Act protects the work of American innovators, strengthens the rule of law, and will help keep American families safe.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]

• The Administration established the StopFakes.gov website and STOP! Hotline (1-866-999-HALT) to provide individuals and businesses the information they need to protect their intellectual property rights. The website includes IP toolkits to guide businesses through securing and enforcing their rights in key markets around the globe, including China, Russia, India, Brazil, Mexico, Korea, Thailand, Egypt, Malaysia, and the European Union. The hotline is staffed by attorneys from the Commerce Department's U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, who counsel businesses on how to protect their IPR and work with callers on how to best resolve problems.

Over The Past Eight Years, The Administration Has Led The Global Fight Against Counterfeiting And Piracy

• The Administration has focused its efforts on China, the global epicenter of counterfeiting and piracy, through the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) and the Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED). The Administration has also brought actions to enforce IP rights under our trade agreements. In April 2007, the Office of the Trade Representative filed cases against China in the World Trade Organization for inadequate enforcement of IP rights.

• In 2004, the Commerce Department posted the first IP attaché at Embassy Beijing. Since then, the program has grown to include eight attachés in six embassies worldwide. The Justice Department has dedicated legal attachés at two embassies to focus on IP enforcement.

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the first ever joint investigation with Chinese law enforcement counterparts. Operation "Summer Solstice" was the first ever joint investigation by U.S. federal law enforcement agencies with Chinese authorities. "Summer Solstice" resulted in 25 individual arrests and the seizure of counterfeit goods totaling over $500 million, the second largest counterfeit seizure in monetary value ever.

[ ...Intervening Text... ]