Justice Dept Announces New Task Force to Combat Intellectual Property Crime
On February 12, 2010, the Justice Department announced the formation of a new Task Force on Intellectual Property as part of a Department-wide initiative to confront the growing number of domestic and international intellectual property crimes.
Vice President Biden noted that the Administration is committed to stronger and stricter enforcement of intellectual property rights, and the Justice Department's new task force is a step in the right direction.
Task Force Will Coordinate Enforcement, Develop Policy, Etc.
The Task Force will:
focus on strengthening efforts to combat intellectual property crimes through close coordination with state and local law enforcement partners as well as international counterparts;
monitor and coordinate overall intellectual property enforcement efforts at the Department, with an increased focus on the international aspects of IP enforcement, including the links between IP crime and international organized crime;
serve as an engine of policy development to address the evolving technological and legal landscape of IPR law enforcement; and
work closely with the recently established Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC), housed in the Executive Office of the President and charged with drafting an Administration-wide strategic plan on intellectual property. (The Task Force will assist IPEC in recommending improvements to intellectual property enforcement efforts.)
Justice Will Also Expand Civil IPR Enforcement, Work with DHS and FCC
As part of its broader intellectual property initiative, the Department will also step up policy engagement with foreign law enforcement partners, develop a plan to expand civil IP enforcement efforts, and leverage existing partnerships with federal agencies and independent regulatory authorities such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Communications Commission.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 12/04/09 news, 09120455, for BP summary of the Senate's confirmation of Victoria Espinel as the IPEC.)
Justice Dept press release (dated 02/12/10) available at http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/2010/February/10-ag-137.html.
BP Notes
1. At its 2009 Trade Symposium, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials discussed their IPR enforcement plans, including plans to create an Importer Self Assessment IPR program and double IPR audits. CBP is also considering a new voluntary disclosure program for IPR violations and ways to collect more IPR penalties. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/10/10 news, 10021005, for BP summary of CBP's IPR presentation at Trade Symposium.)
2. On February 4, 2010, Commerce Secretary Locke gave a speech regarding the Administration's National Export Initiative in which he noted that the U.S. is committed to a rules-based trading system, including cracking down on practices that harm U.S. companies, like the theft of our intellectual property. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/05/10 news, 10020520, for BP summary of Secretary Locke's speech.)