Legislative Update - May 2008

PRO IP ACT

Today, the House of Representatives passed the PRO IP Act, officially known as the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 (H.R. 4279). The main purpose of the bill is to strengthen criminal and civil laws that pertain to copyright and trademark infringement, allocate key personnel and resources to monitor and enforce IP infringement, and enhance strategic Federal initiatives against counterfeiting and piracy. The bill will now move to the Senate for consideration; however, no timetable has yet been established.