Intellectual Property News

 Officials Update Congress On Intellectual Property Enforcement

Washington, DC - Two Senior Bush Administration Officials testified today on progress the Administration has made with its Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!) Initiative. U.S. Coordinator for International Intellectual Property Enforcement Chris Israel and Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property Stephen Pinkos discussed the improvements made to intellectual property rights enforcement.

Israel and Pinkos appeared before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Federal Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia. The hearing examined the effectiveness of the STOP! Initiative and analyzed improvements in U.S. efforts to combat intellectual property theft since the appointment of Israel as the IP Coordinator last July.

"Few issues are as important to the current and future economic strength of the United States as our ability to create and protect intellectual property. Combating piracy and counterfeiting is a top priority for the Bush Administration," said Israel. "President Bush has consistently raised intellectual property enforcement with foreign leaders, placed the issue on the agenda of the G8 and made it a key part of the recent U.S./EU summit." Read more at commerce.gov

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	There are common law rights Federal registration is not required to establish rights in a trademark. Common law rights arise from actual use of a mark. Generally, the first to either use a mark in commerce or file an intent to use application with the Patent and Trademark Office has the ultimate right to use and registration. However, there are many benefits of federal trademark registration.