Intellectual property protection has received a major push on the Hill as of late, with Senate hearings, Member led information sessions, and multiple legislative proposals.
Following passage of H.R. 4279, the PRO-IP Act, in the House, the Senate is now considering two bills that contain similar provisions. S. 522, the Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Act, sponsored by Senators Bayh (D-IN) and Voinovich (R-OH), would create the Intellectual Property Network (IPEN), a cabinet level office that would coordinate intellectual property enforcement efforts across a range of Federal and State agencies. IPEN would also be tasked with establishing policies that remove counterfeit and pirated goods from the supply chain. Showing their commitment to the legislation, on June 5th, Senators Bayh and Voinovich held a rally to enlist additional supporters from the business community.
While S. 522 takes a coordination-based approach, S. 2317, the IP Enforcement Act of 2007, sponsored by Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Hatch (R-UT), strikes a somewhat stronger tone, with an enforcement-based approach. The bill would change existing law to allow the Attorney General to commence a civil action for what would otherwise be criminal infringement; it would also subject the infringer to civil penalties.
With a tightening legislative window, little time remains for a comprehensive intellectual property bill to be passed. MPA continues to support this legislation and to seek its passage.
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