Letter on H.R. 4279, the "Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2007 (PRO-IP Act)"

March 5, 2008

The Honorable Howard Berman

Chairman

Subcommittee on Courts, Internet and Intellectual Property

Committee on the Judiciary

United States House of Representatives

Washington, DC 20515

The Honorable Howard Coble
Ranking Member
Subcommittee on Courts, Internet and Intellectual Property
Committee on the Judiciary
United States House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Berman and Ranking Member Coble:

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world's largest business federation representing more than three million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region, thanks you for scheduling a subcommittee markup of H.R. 4279, the "Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2007 (PRO-IP Act)."

Intellectual property (IP) protection is crucial to America's continued competitiveness and future economic security. An estimated 750,000 U.S. jobs have been lost due to counterfeiting and piracy of IP and U.S. companies are deprived of an estimated $250 billion in annual revenue because of this growing problem. Aside from the economic threat posed by IP theft, counterfeit products such as auto and aviation parts, toothpaste, prescription drugs and many others endanger the health and safety of U.S. consumers.

The Chamber fully supports legislation to enhance civil and criminal IP laws, provide for increased resources and coordination within the executive branch for IP enforcement, and ensure that protecting IP remains a priority for future presidential administrations. The PRO-IP Act promotes all of these goals and the Chamber supports its expeditious approval by the Judiciary Committee and the House of Representatives.

The Chamber appreciates your leadership on this important issue.

Sincerely,
R. Bruce Josten