**GAO-08-921T**                      Published: Jun 17, 2008. Publicly Released: Jun 17, 2008.                  

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## Highlights

U.S. government efforts to protect and enforce intellectual property (IP) rights domestically and overseas are crucial to preventing billions of dollars in losses to U.S. industry and IP rights owners. The illegal importation and distribution of IP-infringing goods also poses a threat to the health and safety of U.S. citizens. However, the challenges involved in IP protection are significant and require effective coordination among a wide range of policy and law enforcement agencies. Multiple agencies work to protect IP rights, and they coordinate their efforts through certain coordination bodies as well as an executive- branch strategy called the Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP). This testimony addresses two topics: the need for (1) greater leadership and permanence in the national IP enforcement strategy and coordination structure; and (2) improvement in key agencies' criminal IP enforcement data collection and analysis. It is based on prior GAO work conducted from 2003 to 2008.

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## Topics

Information Management

AccountabilityAgency missionsCrime preventionData collectionData integrityFederal agenciesIntellectual propertyInteragency relationsInternational relationsInvestigations by federal agenciesLaw enforcementPerformance measuresProperty rightsReporting requirementsRisk assessmentRisk managementStrategic planningProgram coordinationProgram goals or objectives