Anthony Gemma releases major policy paper- MAINTAINING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INTEGRITY IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY

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Ray Rickman

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ANTHONY GEMMA RELEASES MAJOR POLICY PAPER: MAINTAINING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY INTEGRITY IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY

September 10, 2010 [PROVIDENCE] Anthony Gemma, candidate for the Democratic nomination for Congress from Rhode Island’s First District, today released “Maintaining Intellectual Property Integrity in a Global Economy,” a major policy paper in which he calls for enhanced, robust protections of copyrights, patents, and trademarks.

“According to a Government Accountability Office report, foreign infringement of intellectual property rights results in significant lost sales and tax revenue, and diminished brand value,” said Gemma. “Products most at risk are those requiring extensive research and development, those, like DVDs and software, that can be copied cheaply and quickly, and those bearing brand names.”

Gemma noted that the GAO report he cites was five years in the making. “The prevalence of infringements necessitates a more sustained study and research effort,” Gemma said. “Also, the Department of Commerce should issue an Annual Report to alert consumers and manufacturers of current international threats to intellectual property and to suggest precautionary measures to help manufacturers protect product integrity.”

In Congress, Gemma added, “I will introduce legislation that will provide businesses with the capability to regain revenue and resources lost to infringement. And I will help align the eleven Federal agencies currently responsible for providing protections against infringement.”

Gemma concluded by stating, “We must establish more agreements among nations to extend protections beyond World Trade Organization minimum standards, and I will lead the fight to create and implement them.”

The Gemma policy paper, “Maintaining Intellectual Property Integrity in a Global Economy,” is attached.

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