The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Commitment to Combating Intellectual Property Theft

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently submitted a comprehensive response to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) regarding the annual review of notorious markets for counterfeiting and piracy. The U.S. Chamber believes that intellectual property (IP) is a cornerstone of U.S. economic development and competitiveness, and remains dedicated to promoting innovation and creativity through robust IP enforcement standards.

The Counterfeiting and Piracy Challenge

Effective IP enforcement is crucial for creating a rule of law environment that fosters investment in IP value creation. However, many global economies lack effective enforcement mechanisms, and not all economies grant customs authorities the power to seize counterfeit goods without a formal complaint. Volatility in the global enforcement environment negatively affects rightsholders ability to creative, use, and protect their IP both within U.S. borders and abroad. As a result, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates the scope of counterfeiting is higher than it has ever been with global trade in fake goods measured at over $500 billion annually.

The Role of Public-Private Partnerships

Public-private partnerships are essential to addressing the systemic challenges of counterfeiting and piracy. The Chamber’s Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has facilitated active information-sharing and coordinated consumer awareness efforts. This collaboration has led to the seizure of millions of dollars’ worth of counterfeit goods, strengthened criminal investigations, and effectively educated American consumers about dangerous fakes.

Counterfeit Medicines and Online Pharmacies

This year, the Chamber was pleased to see USTR spotlight the scourge of counterfeit medications in the global supply chain. The rise of counterfeit medicine sales is a significant public health issue. Consumers’ health and safety is put at risk when counterfeiters use deceptive tactics to peddle fake medications on suspicious online marketplaces and pharmacies. The Chamber is particularly concerned about counterfeit GLP-1 medications infiltrating the U.S. market, posing a significant threat to patient safety and undermining the IP of drug developers.

Conclusion

The Chamber supports the USTR’s efforts to identify marketplaces that allow counterfeit and pirated products to be sold. By focusing on systemic challenges and fostering public-private partnerships, the Chamber aims to create lasting impacts and foundational change in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy. The Chamber remains committed to protecting the IP rights of creators and innovators and ensuring the safety of American consumers.

About the authors

Sydney Redden

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