White House report claims ‘great strides’ on intellectual property

The plan’s goal has been to “improve intellectual property enforcement, thereby protecting innovation, strengthening the economy, supporting American jobs, and promoting exports in intellectual property-related sectors by increasing intellectual property enforcement,” she said.

While the report encourages more inter-agency cooperation and public-private partnerships, it indicates that the administration isn’t keen on legislation that would sacrifice freedom of expression in the name of IP enforcement.

{mosads}The position articulated is similar to the one expressed by President Obama when he indicated his opposition to the Stop Online Piracy Act, which stalled in Congress amid a massive outcry from Internet companies and free-speech advocacy groups.

The report produced positive responses from stakeholders on both sides. “We are … pleased that the Coordinator confirmed the Administration’s opposition to legislation ‘that reduces freedom of expression, increases cybersecurity risk (including authority to tamper with the DNS system), or undermines the dynamic, innovative global Internet,'” said Public Knowledge senior staff attorney John Bergmayer, who also applauded the report for demonstrating “a commitment to transparency in policymaking for intellectual property.”

Business Software Alliance president Robert Holleyman also said in a statement that he “commends” Espenel and the administration “for bringing focused determination to the task of protecting IP rights.” Holleyman encouraged the administration to press forward on the Joint Strategic Plan. “Today’s report shows the IPEC process is working the way it was intended,” he said.