Senator Coons Speaks at Law Enforcement Training on Intellectual Property Crime

Press Release

U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), co-chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus, today joined state and local law enforcement officers from Delaware and surrounding states as they received cutting-edge training on combatting intellectual property crime. Held at Carvel State Office Building in Wilmington, the training sponsored by the Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance and led by the National White Collar Crime Center and the National Association of Attorneys General.

"Protecting American innovation means protecting American jobs," Senator Coons said. "This is especially true in our state and our region, where intellectual property theft in industries ranging from chemicals and pharmaceuticals to plastics and electrical components affects tens of thousands of local jobs. When thieves steal American intellectual property, they're stealing American jobs, so I couldn't be prouder that our law enforcement officers are on the case and cracking down on this kind of crime."

As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Coons has been engaged in numerous efforts to protect American intellectual property from theft by foreign and domestic criminals. Copyright infringement and the sale of counterfeit goods cost the U.S. economy billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of jobs, in addition the billions of dollars in lost tax revenue for federal, state and local governments and the threat to the safety and wellbeing of consumers.

"Intellectual property theft is real crime that harms real people," Senator Coons said. "Our state and local law enforcement officers are the first line of defense, and the expert training they received today will make a big difference for Delaware families."

Source