[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 121 (Wednesday, July 18, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5071-S5072]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 580--RECOGNIZING AND SUPPORTING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF 
 THE IMPORTANCE OF TRADEMARKS AND THE GOALS AND IDEALS OF THE NATIONAL 
 TRADEMARK EXPOSITION OF THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

  Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself and Mr. Coons) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 580

       Whereas intellectual property is instrumental to the 
     economy of the United States by fueling innovation and 
     creating jobs;
       Whereas Congress and the Congressional Trademark Caucus 
     understand the importance of trademarks and wish to support 
     the United States Patent and Trademark Office in operating to 
     drive economic growth and enhance the competitiveness of the 
     United States;
       Whereas the first National Trademark Exposition took place 
     more than 30 years ago in Washington, D.C.;
       Whereas, in an increasingly competitive global marketplace, 
     counterfeit goods pose an escalating threat to businesses and 
     jobs in the United States;
       Whereas counterfeit goods cost the United States billions 
     of dollars and countless jobs annually;
       Whereas it is important for Congress and consumers to 
     understand the impact of counterfeit goods on the economy of, 
     and the health and safety of consumers in, the United States;
       Whereas low quality counterfeit goods can--
       (1) be dangerous to consumers and harmful to entrepreneurs; 
     and
       (2) erode consumer confidence in brands;
       Whereas trademark registration and Federal trademark law 
     assist the public in--
       (1) discerning between authentic and counterfeit 
     merchandise; and
       (2) stopping the flow of counterfeit goods;
       Whereas consumers in the United States encounter an average 
     of 1,500 trademarks each day;
       Whereas it is important for the United States to strive to 
     have the best intellectual property system possible that is 
     understood by the public of the United States;
       Whereas the Congressional Trademark Caucus focuses on 
     supporting initiatives that increase awareness of, and foster 
     a productive public dialogue about, the importance of 
     trademarks and the risks associated with counterfeit goods;
       Whereas the National Trademark Exposition supports the work 
     of the Congressional Trademark Caucus by facilitating the 
     education of thousands of consumers; and
       Whereas educating the public about the value of brand names 
     and trademarks in an increasingly competitive global 
     marketplace serves the public interest of helping to 
     safeguard consumers against deception and confusion in the 
     marketplace: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (A) there should be greater public awareness of the 
     importance of trademarks for the society and economy of the 
     United States;
       (B) the 2018 National Trademark Exposition of the United 
     States Patent and Trademark Office provides a unique 
     opportunity to--
       (i) educate the people of the United States about 
     trademarks; and
       (ii) encourage--

       (I) a greater understanding of the role that trademarks 
     play in the economy of the United States; and
       (II) corporations, small businesses, governmental agencies, 
     and nonprofit organizations to share information with the 
     public about trademarks; and

       (C) the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the 
     Smithsonian Institution should be recognized for 
     orchestrating a free, family-friendly event that educates 
     tens of thousands of people about the importance of 
     trademarks; and
       (2) the Senate supports efforts to increase public 
     awareness of the importance of trademarks, including the 
     goals and ideals of the 2018 National Trademark Exposition of 
     the United States Patent and Trademark Office held on July 27 
     and 28, 2018.

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