[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 60 (Tuesday, April 27, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H2917-H2919]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DAY

  Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1208) supporting the goals of World 
Intellectual Property Day.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1208

       Whereas intellectual property is the backbone of the 
     economic competitiveness of the United States and the only 
     economic sector in which the United States has a trade 
     surplus with every nation in the world;
       Whereas well over 50 percent of United States exports now 
     depend on some form of intellectual property, compared to 
     less than 10 percent 50 years ago;
       Whereas intangible assets that stem from intellectual 
     property, such as high-value services, global branding, 
     technological know-how, and scientific research, must be 
     recognized as cornerstones in achieving economic recovery and 
     creating jobs;
       Whereas intellectual property assets today represent more 
     than one third of the value of United States-based 
     corporations and more than 17 percent of the gross domestic 
     product of the United States;
       Whereas intellectual property plays a significant role in 
     an increasingly broad range of services, ranging from the 
     Internet to health care to nearly all aspects of science and 
     technology and literature and the arts, and the potential for 
     innovation and invention must be fostered as its greatest 
     attribute;
       Whereas the United States and all countries share the 
     challenge of combating piracy and counterfeiting of 
     intellectual property, including illicit trade in life-saving 
     drugs, cutting edge technologies, film, music, books, and 
     inventions that affect the quality of life;
       Whereas the piracy and counterfeiting of intellectual 
     property have a significant impact on economies around the 
     world, translate into lost jobs, lost earnings, and lost tax 
     revenues, and threaten public health and safety;
       Whereas the World Intellectual Property Organization, with 
     184 member states, is the primary organization in the world 
     focused on the development and protection of intellectual 
     property rights for all creators and all countries;
       Whereas World Intellectual Property Day provides an 
     opportunity to reflect on how intellectual property touches 
     all aspects of people's lives, how copyright helps music to 
     be heard and art, films, and literature to be seen, how 
     industrial design helps shape the world in which people live, 
     how trademarks provide reliable signs of quality, and how 
     patenting helps promote ingenious inventions that make life 
     easier, faster, safer, and sometimes completely changes the 
     way people live;
       Whereas the theme of 2010 World Intellectual Property Day 
     is ``Innovation-Linking the World'', and presents an 
     opportunity to champion the role of intellectual property 
     rights in providing incentives for the development of the 
     innovative solutions needed to meet today's global challenges 
     while creating jobs and stimulating the United States 
     economy;
       Whereas April 26, 1970, was the date on which the 
     Convention establishing the World Intellectual Property 
     Organization entered into force;
       Whereas, in 2000, member states of the World Intellectual 
     Property Organization established World Intellectual Property 
     Day to celebrate the contribution made by innovators and 
     artists to the development and growth of societies across the 
     globe and to highlight the importance and practical use of 
     intellectual property in everyone's daily lives; and
       Whereas April 26, 2010, has been designated as World 
     Intellectual Property Day, a time to celebrate the importance 
     of intellectual property to the United States and the world: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) supports the goals of World Intellectual Property Day 
     to promote, inform, and teach the importance of intellectual 
     property as a tool for economic, social, and cultural 
     development;
       (2) recognizes the ever-increasing importance of 
     intellectual property and the new challenges and serious 
     threats to its protection, which affect prospects for future 
     growth of the United States economy;
       (3) supports robust and ongoing efforts to protect the 
     health and well-being of citizens in the United States from 
     fraudulent and illegal counterfeiting and piracy;
       (4) congratulates the World Intellectual Property 
     Organization for building awareness of the value of 
     intellectual property and developing the necessary 
     infrastructure to help citizens take full advantage of their 
     own creativity; and
       (5) applauds the ongoing contributions of human creativity 
     and intellectual property to growth and innovation and for 
     the key role they play in promoting and ensuring a brighter 
     and stronger future for the United States and the world.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Wisconsin.


                             General Leave

  Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, House Resolution 1208 supports the goals of World 
Intellectual Property Day and recognizes the importance of protecting 
intellectual property. World Intellectual Property Day brings attention 
to the impact that intellectual property has in our daily lives, 
educates us on how intellectual property protection promotes creativity 
and innovation, and celebrates its contributions to society.
  The theme for World Intellectual Property Day this year is, 
``Innovation: Linking the World.'' The focus is to educate us on how 
innovation technologies have created an interlinked and global society.
  Yesterday, we celebrated the 10th annual World Intellectual Property 
Day. This day was selected because on April 26, 1970, the United 
Nations established

[[Page H2918]]

the World Intellectual Property Organization, otherwise known as WIPO. 
WIPO works to promote the protection of intellectual property 
throughout the world, and yesterday was WIPO's 40th anniversary. This 
resolution congratulates the World Intellectual Property Organization 
for building awareness of the value of intellectual property. This 
resolution also celebrates the contributions of innovators throughout 
the world and reminds us of the importance of protecting intellectual 
property rights.
  Protecting intellectual property rights is key to maintaining 
incentives for the development of innovative solutions to meet today's 
global challenges, and so we must continue to fight against piracy and 
counterfeiting of intellectual property. Piracy damages our national 
economy and the world economy. It results in lost jobs and stifles 
innovation.
  I would like to thank Congressman Adam Smith for introducing this 
resolution. I would also like to acknowledge the strong bipartisan 
support of members of the Intellectual Property Caucus.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important resolution, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield as much time as he might 
consume to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble), a senior 
member of the Judiciary Committee and a former chairman of the 
Intellectual Property Subcommittee.
  Mr. COBLE. I thank my friend from Texas (Mr. Smith) for yielding.
  Madam Speaker, intellectual property has been described as the 
cornerstone, or one of the cornerstones, of America's economic future; 
and I think that is an accurate description.
  H. Res. 1208 supports the goals of World Intellectual Property Day, 
which falls on April 26 every year, which this year also happened to 
fall on the 40th anniversary of the World Intellectual Property 
Organization, commonly known as WIPO. WIPO has grown to 184 member 
states, and its new director general, Francis Gurry, issued a statement 
honoring World Intellectual Property Day, which pledged to ensure that 
the intellectual property system continues to serve its most 
fundamental purpose of encouraging innovation and creativity, and that 
the benefits of the system are accessible to all, helping to bring the 
world closer.
  Robust and effective laws combined with effective enforcement are 
absolutely necessary to meet General Gurry's global ambitions. 
According to the Department of Commerce, intellectual property-
intensive industries employ nearly 18 million workers, account for more 
than 50 percent of all U.S. exports, and represent 40 percent of the 
country's growth in the United States. USA for Innovation estimates 
that U.S. intellectual property is worth between $5 trillion and $5.5 
trillion. The credit for this success belongs to our great innovators 
and for our robust intellectual property laws which have enabled 
innovation to flourish in America.
  Expanding similar intellectual property protections throughout the 
world is, in my opinion, Madam Speaker, in everyone's best interest. In 
this regard, WIPO plays a very important role, and it is my hope that 
General Gurry will make every effort to help others realize the 
significance of intellectual property rights and work to help implement 
and enforce robust laws which ensure that intellectual property will 
flourish everywhere.
  I urge support of H. Res. 1208.
  Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Washington (Mr. Smith), the author of the resolution before us.
  (Mr. SMITH of Washington asked and was given permission to revise and 
extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Washington. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
House Resolution 1208.
  I would like to thank Chairman Conyers as well as his staff for their 
support in bringing this resolution to the floor, and for the kind 
remarks from the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble). I also want 
to thank the other Chairs of the House Intellectual Property Caucus, 
the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Bono Mack) and, again, the 
gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Coble), who have joined me in 
sponsoring House Resolution 1208.
  This important resolution commemorates World Intellectual Property 
Day, which was observed yesterday, April 26. Each year since 2001, 
World IP Day has been held in observance of the establishment of the 
World Intellectual Property Organization by the United Nations. World 
Intellectual Property Day calls attention to the importance of IP for 
both our Nation and the international economy. It recognizes the 
contributions made by the countless artists, innovators, and other 
creative minds that enrich, assist, and inform us in many ways.
  In and around my district in Washington State, I am able to observe 
daily the critically important role played by innovation and 
intellectual property to the economies of the South Sound region and 
the United States. As many of my colleagues are aware, Washington State 
is fortunate to boast a robust technological and innovative economy, 
with companies that range in size from major corporations to hundreds 
of smaller and medium-size businesses. Together, these industries 
directly and indirectly create hundreds of thousands of jobs and 
generate billions of dollars in economic activity. Each relies upon 
innovation and respect for intellectual property to remain successful 
and internationally competitive.
  Similarly, in States and localities throughout America, artists, 
inventors, and employees in IP-intensive industries play a major role 
in supporting economic vitality. IP creates well-paying job 
opportunities for workers of multiple skill levels, drives research and 
development investment, creates new products and services that make our 
Nation more globally competitive, and drives American exports to 
foreign markets.
  For intellectual property to work, it has to be protected; people 
have to know that they will get the value of their inventions and of 
their brain power. We must protect intellectual property to grow jobs 
here in the U.S. It is critical.
  I am proud to recognize World Intellectual Property Day, and I ask my 
colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution to recognize World 
Intellectual Property Day and the role that intellectual property plays 
in our Nation.
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, the purpose of House Resolution 1208 is to 
congratulate the World Intellectual Property Organization, WIPO, for 
its work and to support the goals of World Intellectual Property Day. 
This day includes teaching the importance of intellectual property as a 
tool for economic, social, and cultural development.
  WIPO is considered the most important international organization for 
the promotion of intellectual property. Among other responsibilities, 
WIPO administers treaties, such as the Berne and Paris Conventions, 
that protect intellectual property globally. The United States, of 
course, is a WIPO member.
  Nine years ago, WIPO member states commemorated the founding of the 
organization by establishing World Intellectual Property Day. April 26, 
1970 is the date on which the convention that created WIPO took effect. 
This resolution commemorates the achievements of WIPO and its 
designation of April 26, 2010 as World Intellectual Property Day for 
the current year. In addition, the resolution contains background 
information on the extent to which intellectual property generates 
jobs, sales, and exports for the United States, while contrasting these 
benefits with the problems related to piracy and anti-counterfeiting.
  I support this resolution and I urge its adoption.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. BALDWIN. Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this 
resolution, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1208.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.

[[Page H2919]]

  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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