Industry supporters are pushing for approval of a pending bill that aims to strengthen intellectual property rights and crack down on piracy and counterfeiting before Congress recesses for the year. Introduced in late July by Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont and ranking member Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania, “The Enforcement of Intellectual Property Act” (S. 3325) would coordinate widespread US agency efforts, effectively marshalling national resources to help better equip state and local associations when protecting intellectual property (IP). The legislation would create a White House position to coordinate IP rights enforcement among the relevant agencies. A longtime supporter of IP rights and the fight against counterfeiting and piracy, the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) stands behind the bill. “We are always looking for different ways to take the profit out of piracy, as that is the key to deterring this type of crime against our manufacturers and the consumers,” says Lee Kadrich, AAIA manager of regulatory and government affairs. “If we can get this done, we will have, for the first time, a real central focus at a very high level for this issue.” The bill will allow for harsher civil penalties to be accessed to those found guilty of violating IP laws and improve the civil remedies available to the victims, Kadrich says. Enhanced funding for the Department of Justice is also included in the language. The allocation will help support state and local organization efforts and further the reach of an existing FBI task force working to crack down on organized crime and counterfeiting. “We need more enforcement action from the top and more examples of people being brought to trial, fined and sent to prison, to help deter people from even getting involved in this,” Kadrich says. But getting the legislation on the Congressional calendar and passed before the end of the legislative session will be difficult. With the Senate reconvening after Labor Day, the agenda will be packed with priority items to address before the session’s conclusion, Kadrich says. “At worst case, this will set up the legislation for the next Congress in 2009,” he says. But no matter when it is heard before the Senate, the importance of the legislation is undisputed, Kadrich says. “The key is anything we can do to take the profit out of piracy is vital to protecting our brands both nationally and internationally,” he says. “We’ve got the world’s best brands, the American brands, and we don’t want people stealing them.” |
