CONTENTS

Economic Perspectives

Electronic Journal of the U.S. Information Agency, Vol. 3, No. 3, May 1998

Focus Commentary Facts and Figures Information Resources

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IN THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE

FOCUS

Protecting Intellectual Property in a Global Economy
By Bruce A. Lehman, Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks
The rise of global communications networks - along with the rapid growth of electronic commerce that has accompanied it - require us to plan for new ways to protect intellectual property rights in the 21st century. Significantly, these issues cannot be solved without international cooperation.

The Challenge of Copyright in the Digital Age
By Marybeth Peters, Register of Copyrights, United States Copyright Office, Library of Congress
Advances in digital technologies are presenting new challenges for national and international copyright law. However, these changes should be managed by the private sector so as not to stifle creativity and innovation in this rapidly changing field.

Intellectual Property in the TRIPS Era
An Interview With Joseph Papovich and Claude Burcky, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
The United States is urging developing countries to make preparations now for meeting their obligations under the multilateral Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS).



COMMENTARY

Panel Discussion: Intellectual Property and the Global Marketplace
A roundtable discussion with Deborah Hurley, Eric H. Smith, Robert Sherwood, and Peter Fowler
What are the challenges of promoting intellectual property in today's global economy? How is the equation changing for developing countries and emerging economies at the dawn of a new century? What impact is the digital age having on traditional approaches to protecting intellectual property? A panel of intellectual property experts offers different perspectives on these and other issues.

Intellectual Property in the Developing World: Challenges and Opportunities
Reports from the front lines of intellectual property protection in five developing countries: Benin, Madagascar, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam.
Judith Saffer: "Local creators need to be rewarded economically and must be assured that there will be protection for their creations."
Salli Swartz: "It was difficult to convince the government officials with whom I spoke of the urgency of taking steps to ensure the enforcement of intellectual property rights."
Karl Jorda: "Technology transfer, licensing, and investment are much easier to bring into fruition when strong patent and copyright protections are in place."
Ralph Oman: "In an environment of strong copyright protection, music, literature, art, and science can flourish."
Steven Robinson: "Now that intellectual property rights are having greater economic impact, there is reason to think that a consensus for the political, administrative, and legal reforms necessary to improve enforcement will grow."



FACTS AND FIGURES

The U.S. Special 301 Process

Legislation on Intellectual Property Before the U.S. Congress



INFORMATION RESOURCES

Key Contacts and Internet Sites

Additional Readings on Intellectual Property

Glossary of Intellectual Property Terms

Economic Perspectives

An Electronic Journal of the U.S. Information Agency

Volume 3, Number 3, May 1998

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Editor, Economic Perspectives
Economic Security - I/TES
U.S. Information Agency
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Publisher.........................Judith Siegel
Editor..............................Mark Taplin
Managing Editors.................Howard Shapiro
....................................Mark Taplin
Associate Editor.....................Wayne Hall
Contributing Editors..............Eileen Deegan
...................................Kathleen Hug
...............................Stephen LaRocque
.................................Martin Manning
..................................Bruce Odessey
....................................Warner Rose
...................................Jon Schaffer
................................Charlotte Titus
Art Director.......................Sylvia Scott
Graphics Advisor.............Joseph Hockersmith

                Editorial Board                

Howard Cincotta....Dave Hamill....Judith Siegel

U.S. Information Agency
Bureau of Information
May 1998

Economic Perspectives
USIA Electronic Journals, Vol. 3, No. 3, May 1998.