By
Maurice N. Ross*
The U.S. has long been the world’s leader in protecting intellectual property rights, often criticizing China, Russia, India, and countries in Latin America for lack of respect for patents, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights. China, India, and to a lesser extent Russia have made significant progress towards acknowledging the importance of respecting intellectual property rights in international trade. Ironically, however, a war is being waged within the U.S. to weaken U.S. intellectual property right laws and make it more difficult to enforce U.S. patents, copyrights, and trademarks against counterfeiters and other infringers. The outcome of this war—being waged in both federal and state legislatures within the United States—could have a profound impact on international trade.
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| By Michael Darcy Brown, Stock Photo 45685957 |
The U.S. has long been the world’s leader in protecting intellectual property rights, often criticizing China, Russia, India, and countries in Latin America for lack of respect for patents, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights. China, India, and to a lesser extent Russia have made significant progress towards acknowledging the importance of respecting intellectual property rights in international trade. Ironically, however, a war is being waged within the U.S. to weaken U.S. intellectual property right laws and make it more difficult to enforce U.S. patents, copyrights, and trademarks against counterfeiters and other infringers. The outcome of this war—being waged in both federal and state legislatures within the United States—could have a profound impact on international trade.
The
“founding fathers” of the United States believed that it was crucial for the
economic success of America’s fledgling democracy to provide economic
incentives for those who devote their energies to developing new technologies as
well as works of art, music, and literature. Thus, pursuant to Article I, Section 8 of
the U.S. Constitution, Congress was empowered: “To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by
securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to
their respective Writings and Discoveries.”
