Innovation Alliance Statement on House Judiciary Subcommittee Hearing on the International Trade Commission
Innovation Alliance Executive Director Brian Pomper released the following statement in response to today’s House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on the International Trade Commission:
“For decades, the International Trade Commission (ITC) has ensured that our nation’s creators and innovators are treated fairly and honestly in an increasingly competitive global market. And section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, which is enforced by the ITC, represents a critical trade enforcement tool to protect U.S. patent owners from competing against infringing goods made in overseas factories and exported to the United States. It is unfortunate that some entities are once again seeking to undermine the ITC’s ability to protect U.S. intellectual property. H.R. 4829 would weaken this important trade remedy and make it harder for U.S. patent owners to defend themselves against foreign infringement.
“H.R. 4829 is a solution in search of a problem. There is no evidence whatsoever of a need for this legislation. The number of section 337 investigations at the ITC is small, with just 36 investigations instituted in 2015. And the number of investigations brought by so-called non-practicing entities is smaller still, with just two in 2015 and three in 2014. There is no abuse at the ITC because the ITC already has the tools to make sure that only those complainants deserving of relief are getting it, and it is using those tools aggressively.
“According to the 2013 Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property, the United States loses over $300 billion from international theft of U.S. intellectual property every year. Weakening the ITC will serve only to worsen this problem and have a detrimental impact on American innovation and the American economy.”
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ABOUT THE INNOVATION ALLIANCE
The Innovation Alliance represents innovators, patent owners and stakeholders from a diverse range of industries that believe in the critical importance of maintaining a strong patent system that supports innovative enterprises of all sizes. Innovation Alliance members can be found in large and small communities across the country, helping to fuel the innovation pipeline and drive the 21st century economy. Learn more at www.innovation.wideeyeclient.com.
Contact: Kat Maramba, (202) 740-3069, Kathrina@BlueEngineMedia.com