United States Announces Programs to Fight Billions Lost to Intellectual Property Theft

Each year, businesses in the United States lose billions of dollars to criminals engaging in intellectual property theft abroad. The State Department will spend a total of over $2.5 million on 16 international training programs in various parts of the world to combat piracy and counterfeiting efforts, protect international property rights, and support the rule of law.

In this second phase, the State Department will provide $1.19 million to ten enforcement-related training programs. All of the programs are part of the Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy ("STOP") initiative announced on October 4, 2004 by the United States Trade Representative, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Justice, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Funds will be obligated for projects to combat intellectual property theft in Brazil, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, and Panama, as well as for initiatives in the Tri-border region of Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil; in Africa; with Interpol; and with countries in the China-East Asia Pacific region.

In August 2004 the State Department announced the first phase of the initiative, $1.31 million for projects in Paraguay, Thailand and Mexico, as well as for projects by the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation, Association of South East Asia Nations, and countries participating in the Central America Free Trade Agreement.

Further details on individual programs and projects are available on the website of the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs: http://www.state.gov/g/inl/rls/fs/36830.htm.