ENFORCEMENT
eop_ipec_jointstrategicplan_hi-res
eop_ipec_jointstrategicplan_hi-res
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THE ORGANIZATION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN<br />
The Strategic Plan is organized and divided into four main sections.<br />
SECTION 1 provides an overview of how intellectual<br />
property serves as a material force behind U.S. economic<br />
growth, high-paying jobs, economic competitiveness,<br />
and creative expression. It also describes in detail<br />
the nature and scope of the IP enforcement-related<br />
challenges faced by IP-intensive industries and law<br />
enforcement communities. The overall dimensions and<br />
scale of intellectual property infringement appear to<br />
be on the rise, with the global estimate of international<br />
trade in counterfeit and pirated hard goods, for example,<br />
reported to now be up to 2.5 percent of world trade<br />
or more than $400 billion. For further context and<br />
understanding, this section provides illustrative examples<br />
to show how business models that rely on unlawful<br />
IP infringement operate to target, misappropriate,<br />
and exploit IP assets belonging to others. Lastly, this<br />
section also includes a meaningful examination of the<br />
often overlooked attendant harms that flow from the<br />
misappropriation and unlawful infringement of intellectual<br />
property. In doing so, Section I outlines how unlawful<br />
activities threaten to undermine the rule of law and fair<br />
competition in world markets, and how illicit trade in<br />
counterfeit and pirated goods, for example, compromises<br />
the integrity of domestic and global supply chains,<br />
threatens public health and safety, and undermines a<br />
number of additional important national interests.<br />
SECTION 2 focuses on illicit IP-based activity in the<br />
online (digital) environment. From the operation of<br />
stand-alone illicit websites, to unlawful activity on<br />
online platforms and services by illicit actors, this<br />
section explores opportunities to support and develop<br />
enhanced mechanisms to curb a wide-range of illicit<br />
online IP-based activity. It includes an examination of a<br />
“follow-the-money” approach to disrupt illicit financing<br />
(via payment processors and advertising networks).<br />
This section also discusses practices and policies aimed<br />
at curbing abusive activities that focus on legitimate<br />
e-commerce platforms, social media channels, and the<br />
search environment.<br />
SECTION 3 focuses on strategies designed to facilitate<br />
secure and lawful trade domestically and abroad. Each<br />
year, more than 11 million maritime containers arrive at<br />
U.S. seaports. At the Nation’s land borders, another 10<br />
million shipments arrive by truck, and 3 million arrive<br />
by rail. An additional quarter billion cargo, postal,<br />
and express consignment packages arrive by air. This<br />
section of the Strategic Plan outlines mechanisms to<br />
enhance the Nation’s ability to stem illicit trade in the<br />
form of counterfeit and pirated products by improving<br />
identification and interdiction mechanisms, enhancing<br />
the operational efficiency of customs authorities, and<br />
securing institutional commitments to explore new<br />
ways of carrying out day-to-day business. The section<br />
advocates the promotion of collaborative efforts<br />
among domestic and international stakeholders to<br />
maintain pace with the evolution of deceptive tactics<br />
used by illicit actors to exploit shipping channels and<br />
economically significant trading zones.<br />
SECTION 4 examines broader IP enforcement strategies<br />
that bridge both online and trade-based threats, focusing<br />
on overarching governmental frameworks and policies<br />
that are critical to supporting robust intellectual property<br />
enforcement efforts in a rapidly changing environment.<br />
As the threats to effective IP enforcement continue to<br />
evolve and migrate across borders, opportunities exist<br />
to support modern administrative frameworks, such as a<br />
“whole of government” model and a “specialized office”<br />
approach to IP enforcement, to provide a more effective<br />
and agile response to IP-based illicit activity. This section<br />
further outlines enhancements to strategic international<br />
engagements, including, for example, supporting the<br />
capabilities of other governments to engage in effective<br />
IP enforcement. This section of the Strategic Plan also<br />
highlights the role of effective trade policy and enhanced<br />
transparency and predictability in global markets.<br />
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY<br />
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