The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provides policy leadership, advocacy, and technical and trade expertise in the domestic and international enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR). This includes providing substantive training and capacity building for foreign government officials in the area of IPR enforcement and providing technical assistance on issues related to the enforcement of IPR. It also provides interagency policy advice and legislative analysis on:
- Domestic and international IPR enforcement issues
- Training programs, technical assistance, and capacity building activities addressing civil criminal, border, and administrative enforcement of IPR
- The role of foreign courts in the disposition of civil and criminal IPR cases, IPR case management, alternative dispute resolution, and judicial mediation
- Public education and training on IPR enforcement issues
- Trade related policies
TitleEnforcement initiatives
The USPTO engages in IPR enforcement capacity building across the globe, and participates actively in international IP enforcement policy discussions.
TitleTrade secrets policy
Trade secrets are vital IP assets held by innovators. Protection of those assets against theft and misappropriation is essential to foster innovation and promote economic growth.
TitleCounterfeit medications
Tracking domestic and international legislation on counterfeit medicines and working with foreign governments, law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies, and IP offices to raise awareness about the dangers of counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
TitleEnforcement resources
Additional resources on enforcement of IPR available from the USPTO, U.S. government, and international organizations.
Questions about the content of this page may be directed to the USPTO’s Office of Policy and International Affairs at OPIAfeedback@uspto.gov.