WASHINGTON (June 23, 2008) — Stronger protection of intellectual property rights will benefit not only the auto parts industry, but American business and consumers as well, said Jeff Thurnau, patent counsel for Gates Corp.
“Every time our technology à is violated by intellectual property pirates, our business model and industry leadership are further compromised,” Thurnau said June 17 at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. “The design and enforcement of comprehensive intellectual property laws must be a top priority to spur the creation of new technology and to protect that investment throughout a product's viable life.”
Thurnau testified in praise of several bills before Congress that would give U.S. corporations tighter control over their intellectual property rights, including one to create an intellectual property “czar” at the Justice Department and one to increase criminal penalties for trafficking in counterfeit labels and packaging.