Intellectual property enforcement and protection report released

Today the Bush Administration released the 2006 Report to the President and Congress on Coordination of Intellectual Property Enforcement and Protection. The report sets forth the actions and initiatives that the U.S. government has taken over the past year to combat the rising tide of global counterfeiting and piracy, and notes the importance of these efforts because of the critical role intellectual property (IP) plays in the country's economic strength and the health and safety of consumers.

The report was produced by the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordination Council (NIPLECC). The Council brings together the leaders of the key federal government agencies responsible for intellectual property enforcement to support the Bush Administration's efforts. The Council is composed of representatives from the Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, Justice and State, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and the U.S. Coordinator for International Intellectual Property Enforcement.

"This report verifies our significant and substantial efforts to stem the tide of intellectual property theft," said Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. "The Department of Justice is committed to working very closely with its partners as this Administration wages an unprecedented effort to crack down on the growing global trade in counterfeit and pirated goods."

Read the 2006 Report to the President and Congress on Coordination of Intellectual Property Enforcement and Protection.