White House seeks input on intellectual property strategy

The White House wants the public's help in crafting a national intellectual property enforcement strategy.

Victoria Espinel, the new White House intellectual property enforcement coordinator, is charged with putting together a strategy to help protect America's innovation and creativity from falling seize to piracy and counterfeiting.

The strategy was mandated by the Pro IP Act passed by Congress in 2008, which also created Espinel's position. She's been in the job less than 3 months.

According to a notice in the Federal Register today, Espinel is looking for input on ways to decrease the supply of counterfeit goods both in the U.S. and overseas. She also wants recommendations from the public regarding the "objectives and content" of the strategic plan to improve the government's intellectual property enforcement efforts.

Comments must be submitted by March 24.

The Chamber of Commerce last week urged the administration to deliver the plan to Congress by the summer.

"Our government's efforts to promote and protect our innovative and creative industries will be a crucial element of our economic recovery," said David Hirschmann, president and CEO of the Chamber's Global Intellectual Property Center.

"A government-wide national intellectual property strategy should be a fundamental part of our nation's job strategy," he said.