Fight Online Theft from Global IP Center on Vimeo.
The U.S. Chamber is appealing to Congress to pass legislation that would provide more resources and personnel to go after websites dedicated to counterfeiting and piracy, also known as rogue websites.
In a February 15 letter to Congress signed by businesses, labor organizations, professional organizations, and trade associations, the Chamber urges Congress to “make it a priority to enact legislation that will provide the government with enhanced tools to disrupt the efforts of those who use websites to make illegal profits by stealing the intellectual property (IP) of America’s innovative and creative industries.”
Last year, a bill providing the Department of Justice enhanced legal tools to crack down on rogue websites was unanimously passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. However the bill was not taken up by the full Senate before the end of the congressional session.
Rogue websites, which are devoted almost exclusively to offering or enabling unauthorized downloads or streaming of copyrighted material – including the latest movies and music hits— or to trafficking in counterfeit products, from pharmaceuticals to luxury goods, are a threat to legitimate businesses and a growing problem. A recent report by global brand protection firm MarkMonitor examined about 100 rogue websites and found that they generate more than 53 billion visits per year.
Legislation to crack down on rogue web sites is part of the 2011 intellectual property policy agenda recently submitted to the White House by the Chamber’s Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC). Other recommendations include:
More resources and personnel for the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC).
- Promote and defend IP rights in international settings such as the World Trade Organization.
- Work with Congress to approve pending free trade agreements.
- Address inadequate IP protection and enforcement in foreign markets.
- Give agencies such as Customs and Border Protection and Immigration Customs Enforcement greater leeway to prevent counterfeit goods from entering the United States.
- Add benchmarks and consequences to the annual government process listing foreign countries and governments that do not honor international intellectual property laws and policies.
- Expand and improve the IP attaché program at American embassies overseas.
The GIPC’s proposals to Congress and the administration are available here.