A recent report focuses on the connection between the importance of property rights and economic well-being of countries around the world. The study shows that countries that have high rates of property rights protection (both intellectual and physical property rights) tend to have higher GDP growth as well as higher income per capita. Another recent [...]

The Copyright Alliance since its beginnings has championed the national nature of the copyright industries. Someone who has never paused to consider the range of work that depends on copyright might think about only “big media”, or Hollywood, or the Big Apple. But the truth is, creativity is alive and well in all 50 states. [...]

Richard E. Wagner, a Professor of Economics at George Mason University, writes a memorable and meaningful introduction to the Property Rights Alliance’s annual report released today analyzing intellectual and physical property rights in 129 countries. “If you go to Google Images and type in ‘Korean Peninsula at night,’ you will see a variety of satellite [...]

Today the Office of the US Trade Representative released a list of more than 30 physical and Internet markets that represent critical challenges in combating piracy and counterfeiting.  USTR Ron Kirk called this report “an opportunity to work together with our trading partners to curb illicit trade and expand legitimate commerce in creative and innovative [...]

As Hollywood prepares for this Sunday’s Oscar festivities, and Congress deliberates how to curb internet piracy, BitTorrent users are thumbing their nose at both coasts.  Trumpeting their illegal activities, BitTorrent users are declaring their “Oscar winner” for best picture.  Their award, however, is determined on the basis of the number of illegal downloads the 10 [...]

Rosetta Stone is an American success story. The well-known provider of language-learning software has grown from a family-owned business in Harrisonburg, Virginia, to a publicly-traded company on the New York Stock Exchange. They remain headquartered in Virginia, with a research center in Boulder, Colorado. All Rosetta Stone software is manufactured in America, supporting 2,000 American [...]

The U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Victoria Espinel this afternoon released her office’s first annual Report on Intellectual Property Enforcement. The document provides an update on the six categories of action items laid out in the IPEC’s strategic plan, which was unveiled in June, as well as IP-related actions in 2010 by the various departments [...]

Adding to several recent reports that are shedding light on the cost of piracy is today’s release by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) predicting that by 2015, the annual global economic impact of piracy and counterfeiting will reach $1.7 trillion and put 2.5 million jobs at risk each year. The report adds further detail [...]

In this down economy, where the unemployment rate still hovers around 9.4%, any existing jobs are vital to the health and well-being of local communities. Jobs are important for both economic stability and growth. And, the effects of a job that disappears or is eliminated from a local community can be felt in all corners [...]

To holiday shoppers, Cyber Monday is when you use your work computer to do a bit of online shopping, hoping for some good savings. Thank you to the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (its Immigration and Customs Enforcement division) for providing their own spin on Cyber Monday — a [...]