[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 119 (Thursday, June 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Page 28483]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-12992]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

United States Patent and Trademark Office

[Docket No.: PTO-C-2017-0024]


Notice of Public Meeting on Voluntary Initiatives To Combat 
Infringement of Intellectual Property in the Online Environment

AGENCY: United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of 
Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting.

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SUMMARY: The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will 
host a public meeting at its headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia, on 
July 17, 2017, on measuring the impact of voluntary initiatives 
undertaken to reduce intellectual property infringement, such as 
copyright piracy and trademark counterfeiting, that occurs online.

DATES: The public meeting will be held on July 17, 2017, from 9 a.m. to 
4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting will be held at the United States Patent 
and Trademark Office, Madison Building, Global Intellectual Property 
Academy, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. All major 
entrances to the building are accessible to people with disabilities.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information regarding the 
public meeting, please contact Peter Fowler, Charisma Hampton, or 
Nadine Herbert at the Office of Policy and International Affairs, by 
telephone at (571) 272-9300, by email at [email protected], 
[email protected], and [email protected], or by postal 
mail addressed to: Mail Stop OPIA, United States Patent and Trademark 
Office, P.O. Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, ATTN: Peter Fowler, 
Charisma Hampton, or Nadine Herbert. Please direct all media inquiries 
to the Office of the Chief Communications Officer, USPTO, at (571) 272-
8400.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The rapid growth of the online marketplace 
for goods and services has been accompanied by a rise in online 
infringement of intellectual property, including copyright piracy and 
trademark infringement. In response, the private sector has undertaken 
a range of voluntary initiatives to help reduce that infringement.
    The Executive Branch has supported these voluntary initiatives. The 
2013 Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement (JSP) 
encouraged their development, and the FY 2017-2019 JSP (available at 
https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/IPEC/2016jointstrategicplan.pdf) identified four research-related ``action 
items'' to be taken to enhance the initiatives, as well as broadly-
directed ``calls for research'' on their impact and effectiveness.'' 
(See Action Nos. 2.2., 2.3, 2.5, and 2.6, at pp. 63 and 65-66 of the FY 
2017-2019 JSP, and the ``calls for research'' on the initiatives, at 
pp. 145-146 of the FY 2017-2019 JSP).
    On June 20, 2013, the United States Patent and Trademark Office 
requested input from the public on the impact of the initiatives (78 FR 
37210, June 20, 2013). The USPTO has also convened meetings with 
content creators and Internet service providers, brand owners and 
payment processing companies, representatives of the advertising 
community and third-party content and brand owners, as well as with 
Internet service providers and technology companies to discuss existing 
voluntary efforts to reduce infringement on commercial platforms that 
facilitate illicit activities.
    To continue this outreach, and as part of the Executive Branch's 
implementation of the FY 2017-2019 JSP's action items and calls for 
research, the USPTO will conduct a public meeting on Voluntary 
Initiatives in the Digital Environment on July 17, 2017. Topics will 
include methods and metrics for conducting empirical research on the 
digital economy; evaluating the effectiveness of self-regulatory 
regimes; case studies of certain private sector initiatives; the role 
of voluntary undertakings in raising consumer awareness; stemming 
revenue flows to bad actors; and lessons learned and next steps.

Instructions and Information on the Public Meeting

    The public meeting will be held at the United States Patent and 
Trademark Office, Madison Building, Global Intellectual Property 
Academy, 600 Dulany Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314. The public 
meeting will begin at 9 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. The agenda will be 
available a week before the meeting on the USPTO Web site, https://www.uspto.gov/learning-and-resources/ip-policy/enforcement/voluntary-initiatives-combat-infringement-intellectual. Registration is also 
available at the same URL. Attendees may also register at the door one 
half-hour prior to the beginning of the meeting.
    The public meeting will be physically accessible to people with 
disabilities. Individuals requiring accommodation, such as sign 
language interpretation or other ancillary aids, should communicate 
their needs to Nadine Herbert at the Office of Policy and International 
Affairs, by telephone at (571) 272-9300, by email at 
[email protected], or by postal mail addressed to: Mail Stop 
OPIA, United States Patent and Trademark Office, P.O. Box 1450, 
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, ATTN: Nadine Herbert, at least seven (7) 
business days prior to the symposium.

    Dated: June 16, 2017.
Joseph Matal,
Performing the Functions and Duties of the Under Secretary of Commerce 
for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and 
Trademark Office.
[FR Doc. 2017-12992 Filed 6-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-16-P