The Commerce Department's United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently co-hosted a symposium to discuss the relationship between copyright policy, creativity and innovation in the Internet economy. The US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke together with leaders from the public and private sectors participated in the event, which was held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on July 1, 2010.
The day-long symposium included discussion of online copyright policy in the US, specifically the impact of current copyright laws, existing and emerging techniques used to illegally distribute and obtain protected works, the extent and economic impact of infringement, and the role of emerging business models for legitimate distribution of content. During the symposium, it was announced that the Department of Commerce will issue a Notice of Inquiry (NOI) later this month seeking public comment on the effectiveness of copyright law. This department will then issue a report which will contribute to the Administration's domestic policy and international engagement in the area of online copyright protection.
In addition to Secretary Locke, featured speakers included US Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Victoria Espinel; Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the USPTO David Kappos; Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information Lawrence E. Strickling; and other senior Obama Administration officials. The conference also included five panel discussions with participants representing the views of different stakeholders.
The Department of Commerce has assembled an Internet Policy Task Force to identify leading public policy and operational challenges in the Internet environment. Recognising the vital importance of both intellectual property rights and the Internet to US creativity and innovation, the Department has made it a top priority to ensure that both remain a vehicle for these important purposes. The Task Force is conducting similar reviews of cybersecurity, the global free flow of information goods and services, and information privacy.
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