Anti-Counterfeiting Legislation Passes House

On May 8, the House of Representatives passed legislation aimed at strengthening the nation's anti-counterfeiting efforts. The legislation passed the House by an overwhelming 410-11 vote. The National Association of Manufacturers called the passage of H.R. 4279 "welcome news for consumers, manufacturers and workers alike. Counterfeiting often poses serious health and safety risks to the general public through sub-standard pirated products, including automobile parts, airplane parts, food medical devices, electrical supplies and pharmaceuticals."

From AAIA Capital Report

On May 8, the House of Representatives passed legislation aimed at strengthening the nation’s anti-counterfeiting efforts. Specifically, the legislation, entitled "Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act" (H.R. 4279), would take the following important actions:

• Strengthen the substantive civil and criminal laws relating to copyright and trademark infringement;

• Establish the Office of the United States Intellectual Property Enforcement Representative in the executive branch to handle national and international coordination of intellectual property enforcement efforts;

• Provide for the appointment of intellectual property attaches to work with foreign countries in their efforts to combat counterfeiting and piracy; and

• Increase the level of intellectual property enforcement coordination within the Department of Justice by establishing a new Intellectual Property Enforcement Division, charged with overseeing the activities of the of the current Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section as well as those of the department’s own international intellectual property enforcement coordinators.

The legislation passed the House by an overwhelming 410-11 vote. The National Association of Manufacturers called the passage of H.R. 4279 "welcome news for consumers, manufacturers and workers alike. Counterfeiting often poses serious health and safety risks to the general public through sub-standard pirated products, including automobile parts, airplane parts, food medical devices, electrical supplies and pharmaceuticals."

The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.