The "Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2007," sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, was introduced on Dec. 5. It establishes new measures to fight international counterfeiting and strengthen enforcement of U.S. intellectual property rights.
The sponsors say the legislation will improve civil and criminal laws relating to copyright and trademark infringement according to Todd Spangler of the Detroit Free Pres.
John Engler, CEO of The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), called the bipartisan intellectual property rights (IPR) legislation "an important first step by Congress to address an issue plaguing nearly every American manufacturer."
"In an increasingly competitive global marketplace, protection of U.S. intellectual property is vital for the long-term growth of American industry," said Engler. "But it is also important for the health, safety and welfare of every American consumer. From pharmaceuticals to brake pads to fuse boxes, Americans have a right to safe and legitimate products -- not substandard fakes."
As a member of the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy (CACP) the NAM helped introduced the Campaign to Protect America this past summer.
