Chamber Commends State Attorneys General for Supporting IP Enforcement Efforts

State, Local Law Enforcement Play Pivotal Role in Protecting Jobs and Consumers

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce today commended attorneys general from 39 states for urging Congress to fully implement and fund the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property (PRO-IP) Act. Enacted in October 2008, the law seeks to bolster the ability of state and local law enforcement to protect intellectual property (IP) by authorizing funding for related programs.

"State and local law enforcement play a pivotal role in protecting jobs and consumers from intellectual property crimes," said Mark Esper, executive vice president of the Chamber's Global Intellectual Property Center. "We commend the state attorneys general who have stepped up as willing partners in protecting IP-based jobs and for ensuring that the products used by consumers are authentic, safe, and effective. We look forward to working with Congress to make sure these needed funds are invested in state and local efforts to combat criminal counterfeiting and piracy."

In a letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committee members, attorneys general from 39 states urged Congress to "assist state and local law enforcement in addressing the growing problem of counterfeiting and piracy by providing $25 million in fiscal year 2010 for intellectual property (IP) enforcement grants administered by the Office of Justice Programs." The funds would be used to "pay for law enforcement training programs, public education programs, the establishment of federal-state-local task forces, and certain special expenses incurred through efforts to combat counterfeiting and piracy."

Signatories included attorneys general from Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.

The Chamber's Global Intellectual Property Center is working around the world to champion IP as vital to creating jobs, saving lives, advancing global economic growth, and generating breakthrough solutions to global challenges.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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