Baucus-Hatch IP Bill Would Help Protect IP Globally

by Caroline Joiner

Earlier today, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced the "International Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement Act of 2008," a bill that would boost enforcement of intellectual property rights around the world.

Among other goals, the Baucus-Hatch bill will require the U.S. Trade Representative to develop comprehensive action plans for countries on its "Priority Watch List" of intellectual property (IP) rights violators, increase its capacity to work with developing countries to see those actions taken, give the President more authority to act if corrective actions are not taken, and ensure the placement of IP officials in the U.S. embassy of each foreign country that has a commercially significant relationship with the U.S.

Passing this legislation would mark an important and necessary step to equip the federal government with the tools it needs to protect America’s innovation advantage.  This proposal is especially timely in light of recent government-sanctioned assaults on intellectual property in Thailand and Brazil through compulsory licensing.

Instead of just taking names of bad actors and adding them to a virtual IP hall of shame, this law would give the U.S. an action-driven process to promote real institutional changes in IP-infringing nations.

Comments

[patrick]

This bill is a joke. It's yet another bill from Orrin Hatch inspired by lobbyist dollars. This willingness to take money for legislation is part of why congress has such a low approval rating. It's also why politicians are seen as corrupt. Hatch once threatened to put all music on a statutory license then the record industry gave him an award and had his favor singer perform one of his songs. Needless to say he quickly changed his position....Corrupt as hell.

301 reports are gift to large copyright holders to allow them to influence trade with there IP wish lists for other countries. The U.S government the nags the countries like the lap dog it is. They should all be ashamed of themselves. Hell, Canada is on the list despite have fulfilled all obligations under treaties they have ratified. The only reason they're on the list is because MPAA can't get them to pass one sided copyright extremist legislation like they can with the U.S congress (some members of which are practically on the payroll).

We're damaging relations with our trade partners as America influence continues to shrink in the world economy. We already have countries routing internet traffic around the U.S.