As part of the mis-named ProIP act, the newly created IP Enforcement Coordinator (generally called the IP Czar) is supposed to help figure out what an effective “intellectual property enforcement strategy” would be. While we have questions about why this position or this plan is really needed in the first place, here’s a bit of good news: rather than just doing the typical consult with industry lobbyists, the administration is, again, asking for public comment (pdf):
This request for comments and for
recommendations for an improved
enforcement strategy is divided into two
parts. In the first, the IPEC seeks written
submissions from the public regarding
the costs to the U.S. economy resulting
from intellectual property violations,
and the threats to public health and
safety created by infringement. In the
second part, the IPEC requests detailed
recommendations from the public
regarding the objectives and content of
the Joint Strategic Plan and other
specific recommendations for improving
the Government’s intellectual property
enforcement efforts. Responses to this
request for comments may be directed to
either of these two parts, or both, and
may include a response to one or more
requests for information found in either
part.
The link above has more details, and the comments are due by Wednesday, March 24, 2010.
Now, I know when I posted my comments submitted to the USTR about the Special 301 process, a number of commenters wondered if the USTR would care, or even bother to look at, let alone consider, comments from the public beyond industry lobbyists. It is a valid concern. And while I do still wonder how much public comments will play a role in the actual strategy (compared to industry responses), in this case, the IPEC specifically reached out to Techdirt to let us know about this request for comment, to see if we would be interested in alerting our readers of their opportunity to take part. Now, the cynical response is that this is just window dressing — and it’s a lot easier to ask for comments from the public than to listen to them, but the fact that they are specifically reaching out to this community (among others) at least suggests an interest in what folks here might have to say. With that in mind, I’m hopeful that some of you will take the time to submit thoughtful comments on the subject.
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