May 20, 2003
#03-16

USPTO Releases Report on Technology to Protect Digitized Copyrighted Works

USPTO Releases Report on Technology to Protect Digitized Copyrighted Works

PRESS RELEASE

The Department of Commerce’s United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) today released its report to Congress on technology designed to protect digitized copyrighted works from infringement, as required under the “Technology, Education and Copyright Harmonization Act of 2002” (TEACH Act).

In response to specific questions posed by Congress, and drawing on public comments submitted and testimony from a public hearing held at the USPTO on February 4, 2003, USPTO identified over 100 commercial firms that have developed, are proposing to develop, or offering such technological protection systems. The report contains information on selected products that are currently available in the marketplace, along with industry-led initiatives, including standard-setting activities, to develop new products.

"Protection of America’s digitized copyrighted works is an increasingly important part of intellectual property protection, and this report provides a snapshot of technological protection systems in today’s dynamic marketplace,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property James E. Rogan. “I hope that the information will be useful to Congress as it continues to respond to the challenges and opportunities in the digital environment.”

The TEACH Act report is intended solely for information purposes. Congress will use it in establishing a baseline of knowledge for what technology is or could be made available and implemented. The USPTO has not conducted an independent analysis of these companies and makes no recommendations, comparisons, or comparative assessments of their products or services.

The report is available on the USPTO Web site: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/dcom/olia/teachreport.pdf

Some contents linked to on this page require a plug-in for PDF files .

# # #