Mumbai: Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) chairman and CEO Dan Glickman lauded the introduction of the International Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement Act of 2008, an important legislative proposal that will advance the protection of U.S. intellectual property around the world. The bill was introduced by Senate Finance Committee chairman Max Baucus and Senator Orrin Hatch.

"The American intellectual property industry creates hundreds of thousands of well-paying American jobs and is the lifeblood of many U.S. businesses. It helps keep our economy strong," Glickman said. "We appreciate the leadership of Chairman Baucus and Senator Hatch. Their efforts to strengthen the enforcement of U.S. intellectual property rights around the world are critical to protecting the many American business sectors and American workers that depend on intellectual property."

Glickman noted that film theft costs the global motion picture industry over $18 billion a year and without movie piracy, over 100,000 additional American jobs would be created. This bill will put in place the tools necessary to protect intellectual property around the world.

The International Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement Act of 2008 would give the U.S. government additional and stronger trade tools to ensure that U.S. copyrighted works receive adequate protection in foreign markets. The Bill also provides additional funding for technical assistance to countries to assist them in enhancing their intellectual property enforcement regimes. This balanced approach will significantly enhance the ability of USTR to persuade U.S. trading partners that U.S. intellectual property rights must be protected.