Intellectual property rights and international trade

This book provides background on intellectual property rights (IPR) and discusses the role of U.S. international trade policy in enhancing IPR protection and enforcement abroad.

IPR are legal rights granted by governments to encourage innovation and creative output by ensuring that creators reap the benefits of their inventions or works and they may take the form of patents, trade secrets, copyrights, trademarks, or geographical indications.

U.S. industries that rely on IPR contribute significantly to U.S. economic growth, employment, and trade with other countries.

Counterfeiting and piracy in other countries may result in the loss of billions of dollars of revenue for U.S. firms as well as the loss of jobs. Responsibility for developing IPR policy, engaging in IPR-related international negotiations, and enforcing IPR laws cuts across several different U.S.

Government agencies. The main structures for co-ordinating interagency efforts are the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Co-ordinating Council (NIPLECC) and the Strategy Targeting Organised Piracy (STOP!).