[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 208 (Tuesday, October 28, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61398-61399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-27155]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

[Docket No. 2003-C-028]


Request for Comments on Agenda for the National Intellectual 
Property Law Enforcement Coordination Council

AGENCIES: Department of Justice and United States Patent and Trademark 
Office, Department of Commerce, as Co-Chairs, National Intellectual 
Property Law Enforcement Coordination Council.

ACTION: Notice and request for public comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement 
Coordination Council (the Council) seeks public comments relating to 
the agenda and mission of the Council. Interested members of the public 
are invited to present written comments on how to improve overall 
coordination and the topics outlined in the Supplementary Information 
section of this Notice.

DATES: All comments are due by November 28, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Persons wishing to offer written comments should address 
comments to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property 
and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Box 
1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, marked for the attention of Elizabeth 
Shaw. Comments may also be submitted by facsimile transmission to (703) 
305-7575, or by electronic mail through the Internet to 
[email protected]. All comments will be maintained for public 
inspection in Room 902, Crystal Park II, 2121 Crystal Drive, Arlington, 
Virginia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Elizabeth Shaw by telephone at (703) 
305-1033, by fax at (703) 305-7575, or by mail marked to her attention 
and addressed to the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual 
Property and Director of the United States Patent and

[[Page 61399]]

Trademark Office, Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordination 
Council (the Council) was created pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1128. The 
Council's mission is ``to coordinate domestic and international 
intellectual property law enforcement among federal and foreign 
entities.'' The Council consists of the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and 
Trademark Office, co-chair of the Council (The Honorable James E. 
Rogan); the Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, co-chair of 
the Council (The Honorable Christopher A. Wray); the Under Secretary of 
State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs (The 
HonorableAlan P. Larson); the Deputy United States Trade Representative 
(Ambassador Peter Allgeier); the Commissioner of Customs (The Honorable 
Robert C. Bonner); and the Under Secretary of Commerce for 
International Trade (The Honorable Grant Aldonas). By statute, the 
Council shall also consult with the Register of Copyrights (The 
Honorable Marybeth Peters).
    The work of the Council is a United States Government effort aimed 
at coordinating domestic and international intellectual property law 
enforcement among Federal and foreign entities. This coordinating role 
may be divided into two parts. The first is to provide a vehicle for 
agencies to share information on their activities relating to 
enforcement of intellectual property rights and related training 
activities. The second role involves projects that the Council itself 
may undertake.
    The Council has identified the following areas of focus in 
fulfilling its mission: law enforcement liaison, training coordination, 
industry and other outreach, and increasing public awareness.
    On August 5, 2002, the Council published a notice in the Federal 
Register seeking public comment on issues associated with the Council's 
mission (67 FR 50633 (2002)). A summary of comments previously received 
is published in the Council's 2000 Annual Report, available on the 
Internet at http://www.uspto.gov.

Issues for Public Comment

    How the Council may best address the areas of focus listed above.
    Activities the private sector is engaged in relating to public 
awareness campaigns involving intellectual property rights protection.
    How the Council may be effective in coordinating a public awareness 
campaign.
    Guidelines for Written Comments.
    Written comments should include the following information: the 
name, affiliation, and title of the individual providing the written 
comment; and if applicable, an indication of whether the comments 
offered represent the views of the respondent's organization or 
personal views.
    Parties offering written comments should also provide comments in 
an electronic format. Such submissions may be provided via Internet 
electronic mail or on a 3.5'' floppy disk formatted for use in either a 
Macintosh or MS-DOS based computer. Electronic submissions should be 
provided as unformatted text (e.g. ASCII or plain text) or as formatted 
text in one of the following formats: Microsoft Word (Macintosh, DOS or 
Windows versions); or WordPerfect (Macintosh, DOS or Windows versions).
    Information provided pursuant to this notice will be made part of 
the public record and may be made available via the Internet. In view 
of this, parties should not submit information that they do not wish to 
be publicly disclosed or made electronically accessible. Parties who 
rely on confidential information to illustrate a point are requested to 
summarize, or otherwise submit, the information in a way that permits 
its public disclosure.

    Dated: October 22, 2003.
James E. Rogan,
Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of 
the Patent and Trademark Office.
    Dated: October 6, 2003.
Christopher A. Wray,
Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, Department of 
Justice.
[FR Doc. 03-27155 Filed 10-27-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-16-P