Goodlatte Statement on World Intellectual Property Day

Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) released the following statement marking World Intellectual Property (IP) Day.

Chairman Goodlatte: "When the Framers of our great nation crafted the U.S. Constitution, they saw fit to include provisions to provide for the protection of intellectual property.  They believed that if authors and inventors had the exclusive ability to use and reap a return on their creations for a limited time, then those artists and inventors would have the financial incentive to create new and exciting products that would benefit society and our economy.

"Today, America is the world leader in innovation and creativity precisely because of our Framers’ foresight and our nation’s strong intellectual property laws.  Intellectual property rights in America are a major driving force and job-creating engine of our economy.

"This vital sector of our economy must be protected and able to flourish.  Last year, at an event marking World IP Day, I announced that the House Judiciary Committee would conduct a comprehensive review of U.S. copyright law to determine whether the laws are still working in the digital age.  As technology continues to rapidly advance, we must ensure that our copyright system can keep pace. 

"As part of the copyright review,  the Judiciary Committee has held over a half dozen hearings covering issues like the Copyright Principles Project, the roles of the copyright and technology industries in our economy, the scope of copyright protection, voluntary agreements, and the notice and takedown provisions.  The Committee intends to continue this thorough review in the months ahead." 

Background: April 26, 2014 is the 14th Annual World IP Day.  This day was designated by the member nations of the World Intellectual Property Organization in order to raise awareness about how patents, copyright, and trademarks impact daily life, to raise understanding of how protecting IP rights helps promote creativity and innovation, to celebrate the contributions of creators and innovators to societies around the world, and to encourage respect for the IP rights of others.