GAO Testifies on
Need to Strengthen Government
IPR Enforcement
In testimony before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, the
Government Accountability Office addresses the need for improvement in the
national intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement strategy and
coordination structure.
Structure for Protecting U.S.
IPR Lacks Leadership and Permanence
GAO testifies that the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement
Coordination Council (NIPLECC), which serves to coordinate U.S. IPR protection
and enforcement across agencies, has struggled to define its purpose and has an
image of inactivity within the private sector.
Although NIPLECC adopted the Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP)
in 2006 as its strategy for protecting IPR overseas, its commitment to
implementing STOP as a national strategy remains unclear, creating challenges
for accountability and long-term viability. Moreover, STOP, which is led by the
National Security Council, lacks permanence since its authority and influence
could disappear after the current administration.
Neither NIPLECC’s September 2006 annual report nor its most recent
January 2008 report explain how the NIPLECC principals plan to carry out their
oversight responsibilities mandated by Congress to help ensure a successful
implementation of STOP. In addition, the STOP strategy document has not been
revised to mention NIPLECC’s oversight role. STOP also lacks a risk management
framework and a discussion of current or future costs and does not specify who
will provide oversight and accountability among the agencies carrying out the
strategy.
CBP and Four Other Agencies
Need to Improve IPR Enforcement Data
GAO states that the five key federal agencies that play a role in
fighting IP crimes - the U.S. Attorney’s Offices; the Federal Bureau of
Investigation (FBI); U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP); Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE); and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - need to
improve their collection and analysis of ..... ( More )
Excerpt from June 23, 2008
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