Intellectual Property Enforcement

The Office of International Intellectual Property Enforcement (IPE) represents the genius of America to the world. Reflecting America’s imagination, intellectual property is the lifeblood of our economy.

The Office of Intellectual Property Enforcement (IPE) advocates for the effective protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) around the world. The IPE team works closely with U.S. ambassadors and diplomats serving worldwide to ensure that the interests of American rights holders are represented overseas, and to highlight the integral role that IPR protection plays in supporting global innovation and economic growth.

IPE promotes strong intellectual property rights systems:

• to deter access to counterfeit and pirated goods that can harm consumers;
• to ensure that the interests of American IP rights holders are protected abroad;
• to promote IP protection and enforcement as vital for economic development.

Why IPE matters

IPE supports the 2017 National Trade Policy Agenda, which ranks the protection of U.S. intellectual property rights among its top policy priorities.

The development and enforcement of IPR makes it possible for the United States to continue being one of the most innovative countries in the world. American scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs invented the microchip, created the Internet, invented the smartphone, started the biotechnology revolution, sent astronauts to the Moon, and saved millions of lives through innovative medicines. America’s creative artists — authors, musicians, film directors and gamers — have captivated the imagination of people all over the world.

A strong system of IP rights assures inventors, industrial designers, and creative artists that their ideas will be protected. They can receive payment for the use of their creations and continue to invest in future innovations. Also, they are incentivized to make their innovation available to others, and share knowledge that enables others to come up with other novel and advanced solutions.

Innovation exists widely throughout the world. Anyone who finds challenges and seeks solutions can create IP. It is important to encourage innovation both domestically and internationally. By encouraging the implementation of strong IPR systems and enforcement around the world, IP protects the ideas and rewards of American innovators as well as stimulates the creativity of inventors and artists everywhere.

World Intellectual Property Day 2023

Learn more about World Intellectual Property Day

Intellectual Property (IP) Defined

Intellectual property embodies unique work reflecting someone’s creativity and is all around us, manifested through miracle drugs, computer games, films, and cars. The three main areas of intellectual property law that innovators use to protect their ideas are Trademarks, Patents, and Copyrights.

To learn more about Trademarks, Patents, and Copyrights, including their application processes, visit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Library of Congress’ U.S. Copyright Office, and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) websites.