ITC Investigates Intellectual Property Rights Infringment in China

From ITC's website:

May 25, 2010
News Release 10-055
Inv. No. 332-519
Contact: Peg O'Laughlin, 202-205-1819

USITC BEGINS SECOND OF TWO INVESTIGATIONS ON THE EFFECT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS INFRINGEMENT IN CHINA ON U.S. ECONOMY AND JOBS

The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) has launched the second of two investigations into the effect on the U.S. economy and U.S. jobs of intellectual property rights (IPR) infringement in China.

The investigation, China: Effects of Intellectual Property Infringement and Indigenous Innovation Policies on the U.S. Economy, is the second report requested by the Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate, in a letter received on April 20, 2010.

In its letter requesting the investigations, the Committee stated: "Despite widespread evidence of the harm to U.S. industries, authors, and artists resulting from IPR infringement in China, the U.S. Government has not conducted a comprehensive economic analysis of the effect of China's ineffective IPR protection and enforcement on the U.S. economy and U.S. jobs." As requested, the USITC will deliver two reports to the Committee. The first investigation, China: Intellectual Property Infringement, Indigenous Innovation Policies, and Frameworks for Measuring the Effects on the U.S. Economy, was instituted on May 5, 2010.

In the second investigation, the USITC, an independent, nonpartisan, factfinding federal agency, will describe the size and scope of reported IPR infringement in China; provide a quantitative analysis of the effects of reported IPR infringement in China on the U.S. economy and U.S. jobs; and discuss actual, potential, and reported effects of China's indigenous innovation policies on the U.S. economy and U.S. jobs, and quantify these effects to the extent feasible. The second report will build upon the qualitative findings described in the first report. The USITC expects to deliver the second report to the Committee by May 2, 2011.

The USITC will hold a public hearing in connection with the two reports at 9:30 a.m. on June 15, 2010. Requests to appear at the hearing should be filed no later than 5:15 p.m. on June 1, 2010, with the Secretary, U.S. International Trade Commission, 500 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20436. For further information, call 202-205-2000.

The USITC also welcomes written submissions for the record. Written submissions (one original and 14 copies) should be addressed to the Secretary of the Commission at the above address and should be submitted at the earliest practical date, but no later than 5:15 p.m. on November 16, 2010. All written submissions, except for confidential business information, will be available for public inspection.

Further information on the scope of the investigation and appropriate submissions is available in the USITC's notice of investigation, dated May 25, 2010, which can be obtained from the USITC Internet site (www.usitc.gov) or by contacting the Office of the Secretary at 202-205-2000.

USITC general factfinding investigations, such as this one, cover matters related to tariffs or trade and are generally conducted at the request of the U.S. Trade Representative, the House Committee on Ways and Means, or the Senate Committee on Finance. The resulting reports convey the Commission's objective findings and independent analyses on the subject investigated. The Commission makes no recommendations on policy or other matters in its general factfinding reports. Upon completion of each investigation, the USITC submits its findings and analyses to the requester. General factfinding investigations reports are subsequently released to the public, unless they are classified by the requester for national security reasons.