Statement from U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke on World Intellectual Property Day

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
CONTACT OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
202-482-4883

“Innovation is at the heart of U.S. job creation, competitiveness and global strength, and today, in celebrating the 11th anniversary of World Intellectual Property Day, we are reminded of how critical intellectual property rights are to driving innovation and unleashing the ingenuity of the American people.

“In today’s competitive global economic climate, protecting and encouraging American innovation has never been more important. A strong intellectual property system enables successful inventors to secure access to capital and hire employees – creating new jobs, new industries and new economic opportunities for Americans.

“With patent reform legislation now being considered in the U.S. House of Representatives, we have the opportunity to modernize the U.S. intellectual property system and empower the United States Patent and Trademark Office to speed the movement of job-creating ideas to the marketplace. This administration continues to strongly support the bipartisan efforts of Congress to enact legislation that fosters innovation, promotes the growth and competitiveness of the U.S. economy and helps America win the future.”