Carter Continues Fight for Intellectual Property Protections

CARTER CONTINUES FIGHT FOR INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTIONS

Secretary Rice Makes Commitment to Defend IP Rights

April 5, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. -U.S. Representative John Carter (TX-31) is urging the protection of intellectual property rights around the globe. Congressman Carter, a member of the Congressional International Anti-Piracy Caucus, participated in a press conference today to unveil the top six countries on the 2006 priority watch list. The watch list identifies countries with high levels of intellectual property piracy.

Congressman Carter also had the opportunity to question Department of State Secretary Condoleezza Rice about steps being taken to fight against intellectual property piracy abroad during a Committee on Appropriations Foreign Operations Subcommittee hearing yesterday. Carter urged continuation of the program in place that enlists and assists foreign law enforcement officials in combating the commercial piracy of our nation's intellectual property abroad. Congressman Carter has supported funding for this program and an initiative that would increase resources at the FBI dedicated to criminal intellectual property rights enforcement.

"The protection of intellectual property is an important issue to the future of our country. America is the world's single largest creator, producer, and exporter of copyrighted materials. It is critical that we protect this industry so we might remain the leader of the world in our ideas. International piracy is a major issue, costing our country more than $15 billion in 2005," Congressman Carter said. "I encourage the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement to continue their efforts to fight a major criminal element in the world. I will continue to support initiatives that dedicate resources to protecting intellectual property."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/tx31_carter/ip_april5.html