Property Rights Fans Form New Advocacy Group
As some seek more intellectual property (IP) rights protection, the new Property Rights Alliance (PRA) is stressing the interplay between IP and private property issues like land rights and rent control.
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Recent Supreme Court decisions limiting physical and IP rights have left little choice but to unify and organize, PRA members said Mon. The high court’s June Kelo v. City of New London decision, giving local govt. authority to seize private land and give it to developers, was the latest spur to action for property owners’ rights, PRA Exec. Dir. Scott LaGanga said. The group “recognizes the necessity for a constant defense of physical and intellectual property from government’s grips,” he said.
PRA will focus on all-encompassing issues on domestic and international fronts. Key topics include: (1) Federal and state law on “takings” and use of eminent domain. (2) Federal govt. land and building ownership. (3) U.S. environmental policy and its effect on private property ownership. (4) Global IP piracy and counterfeiting. (5) Property law and protections in developing countries to foster economic growth and democracy. (6) Strong intellectual and physical property safeguards for all trade agreements with the U.S. (7) The patent system, including copyrights, patents and trademarks.
Preparing to launch PRA, organizers convened off-the- record meetings on Capitol Hill to align stakeholders on issues facing Congress and the Bush Administration. At its Sept. 8 meeting, the group was to hear from Chris Israel, the new govt. IP enforcement czar, plus American Intellectual Property Law Assn. Exec. Dir. Mike Kirk, whose group is concerned with patent reform and supports Rep. Smith’s (R-Tex.) patent reform bill (HR-2795). Attendees heard from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Counterfeiting & Piracy Dir. Brad Huther, Intellectual Property Owners Assn. counsel Dana Colarulli, MPAA congressional affairs dir. Ken Inouye and NCTA Senior Vp Steven Berry, among others. Reps. Otter (R-Ida.) and Cannon (R-Utah) have rallied behind PRA’s launch, LaGanga said.
PRA is an affiliate of Americans for Tax Reform, which wants federal, state and local taxes cut. Eventually, LaGanga hopes to spin the project off into a stand-alone interest group.