Government Report Outlines New Plans for IP Enforcement

According to U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Victoria Espinel, the administration has outlined a number of action items for the coming year that include improvements to transparency in IP policymaking, international negotiations, law enforcement communication with IP stakeholders, and education regarding fair use. The annual report also examines technology such as mobile apps, 3D printing and IP-compliant software.

“The latest report provides an overview of recent activity by the administration on the IP front, from trade negotiations to counterfeit crackdowns,” explains The Hollywood Reporter. “It also includes statistics about how departments such as ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and the Justice Department have been tackling IP theft.”

“The past year was also one in which Hollywood studios and ISPs enacted voluntary initiatives to discourage piracy — something noted amid the administration’s willingness to foster more cooperation among what it calls the stakeholders. The administration adds that it would like to examine the effectiveness of these voluntary programs.”

The report notes that establishing an advisory group is a possibility for improving transparency, adding that updates to the group’s efforts will be regularly published and an “open door policy” will be maintained.

While the report is not specific regarding enforcement, it does address the need for federal law enforcement to regularly engage rights-holders. It further notes that customs seizures and criminal actions on the IP front are up modestly since 2009.

The full 2013 Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement is available online.

No Comments Yet

You can be the first to comment!

Leave a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.