(September 15, 2009) The California Chamber of Commerce is supporting robust federal funding for enforcing intellectual property law.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation that makes it a priority to fund intellectual property enforcement provisions in legislation enacted last year. A similar proposal is moving in the U.S. Senate.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has indicated that intellectual property piracy is a leading issue “critical to the future growth of California’s global economy.” The California economy loses an estimated $34 billion per year to counterfeiting and piracy.

On a national level, recent estimates are that intellectual property theft has cost the U.S. economy hundreds of thousands of jobs and causes businesses to lose more than $200 billion in annual revenue.

Federal Efforts

Californians rely heavily on strong federal intellectual property standards and enforcement efforts. Federal legislation approved by Congress last year authorized funding for FBI agents and federal prosecutors dedicated to fighting counterfeiting and piracy, and established a grant program to help state and local law enforcement authorities combat these crimes.

For the provisions to be meaningful and effective, however, they must be adequately funded through the appropriations process. Studies indicate that even modest increases in government resources to investigate and prosecute these crimes can make a significant difference in stemming losses.

Action Needed

The CalChamber is urging members of the business community to contact U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-San Francisco) and urge her to support this critical funding for intellectual property enforcement.

Effective enforcement will enable intellectual property-based industries to continue driving U.S. economic growth and provide quality jobs to 18 million American workers.

Staff Contact: Kyla Christoffersen