US announces global intellectual-property plan
Anne Broache
CNET News.com
September 22, 2005, 10:35 BST
Intellectual-property infringement is costing US businesses $250bn a year, according to the US government
The Bush administration on Wednesday announced new plans to expand its crackdown on intellectual-property infringement overseas.
During California visits with high-tech and movie industry representatives, Commerce Department secretary Carlos Gutierrez described two new programmes aimed at eroding intellectual property infringement, which the department claims costs US businesses $250bn (£138bn) and 750,000 jobs per year.
"The protection of intellectual property is vital to our economic growth and global competitiveness, and it has major consequences in our ongoing effort to promote security and stability around the world," he said.
One programme would place intellectual property experts on the ground in regions where infringement is considered a concern. There they would work with overseas US businesses and native government officials to advocate improved intellectual-property rights protection, according to a department fact sheet.
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