Commerce
Secretary Launches Website to Assist American Innovators and Entrepreneurs
Secure
Intellectual Property Rights
WASHINGTON,
D.C. – Commerce Secretary Donald L. Evans today announced
the launch of a new website dedicated to assisting American innovators
and entrepreneurs secure their intellectual property rights at home
and abroad. The site, http://www.StopFakes.gov, is
an element of the Administration’s “Strategy Targeting
Organized Piracy(STOP)” initiative. The initiative protects
American businesses and their products from counterfeiters and pirates
who are stealing from America’s workers and robbing billions
from the U.S. economy.
“When
Attorney General Ashcroft, Ambassador Zoellick, Undersecretary Hutchinson
and I announced the STOP initiative on October 4, I promised to
develop a web-based guide for our innovators and businesses on how
to safeguard their ideas and innovations; today we are fulfilling
that promise. This website is evidence that we are elevating our
cooperation in the federal government and with the private sector
in a unified effort against piracy and IPR theft. In the coming
weeks and months we will continue to work with our colleagues in
the government to expand the resources and information available
through this website,” said Evans.
The StopFakes.gov contains
• A pamphlet on Protecting Your Intellectual Property at Home
and Abroad
• Key government links for help with intellectual property
issues
• A guide to U.S. government resources for protecting intellectual
property
• A “China IPR Toolkit” with suggestions regarding
what American companies can do to protect their IPR in China and
steps to consider after an infringement occurs.
Under
the STOP Initiative, Commerce has already
•
established a hotline that provides a one-stop-shop for businesses
to protect their intellectual property at home and abroad. 1-866-999-HALT
provides businesses with the information they need to leverage the
resources of the U.S. government protect their intellectual property
rights
•
built a bridge between companies and US Customs to block bogus goods
at the border.
•
begun working with industry leaders to develop voluntary guidelines/corporate
compliance programs to ensure that their supply chains are free
of trade in fakes
The
Commerce Department continues to focus on the President’s
goal to level the playing field by opening new markets for American
products and tough enforcement of international trade laws in order
to grow our economy and create new jobs.