[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 42 (Monday, April 18, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
   PIRACY OF U.S. PATENTS AND COPYRIGHTS COSTS OUR COMPANIES BILLIONS

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                           HON. SAM GEJDENSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 18, 1994

  Mr. GEJDENSON. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to get 
companies like Pfizer pharmaceutical of Groton, CT, real help in 
combating the theft of American know-how.
  The piracy of U.S. patents and copyrights by foreign countries costs 
our companies $15 to 17 billion each year. That means over 300,000 
American jobs are put at risk every year by foreign pirates. 
Pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer lose $5 billion or more each and 
every year, jeopardizing at least 100,000 American jobs.
  America's strongest asset in this competitive world is its ingenuity 
and its creatively. From the pencil-making machine to the microchip, 
U.S. inventors have created millions of groundbreaking products over 
the years. But products like these are being stolen every day by 
countries that have no respect for the rights of the inventor. From the 
scientists who invent the products to the men and women who make and 
ship them, American workers are being ripped off by foreign pirates.
  My legislation would put a stop to that by calling on the 
administration to use every possible policy lever, including 
withholding trade benefits, to end the thievery of our intellectual 
property.
  And for those countries that are earnestly trying to stop the 
thievery but do not have the wherewithal to do so, my legislation helps 
them to get the training and technology needed to put in place a real 
system of intellectual property protection.
  Everything that Americans create or invent for the marketplace gets a 
patent or copyright in this country to ensure that the creators get a 
return for their labors. No less should be expected in other countries 
that want to benefit from our ingenuity and creativity. Whether they 
want to get relief from common arthritis pain, or to keep their 
accounts on Lotus 1-2-3 or just to watch a Steven Spielberg movie, 
foreign benefactors of American ingenuity should pay for the privilege.

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