Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

Representing the 8th District of New York

Intellectual Property

Strong Intellectual Property (IP) protection is an essential bedrock necessary to spur our economy and further American innovation.  Our entrepreneurs, business owners, and the general public are best served when our patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secrets are valued and upheld.  Robust American IP laws foster our global competitive advantage.  It is the responsibility of Members of Congress to uphold our Constitutional charge to safeguard creativity and ingenuity.  

Addressing abusive patent litigation in our courts – while still ensuring that legitimate patent lawsuits may be brought - is a top priority for me.  It is also important that content creators and innovators are fairly compensated for the fruits of their labor without threat of IP misappropriation from national or international actors.  For more information about my work on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Courts, and the Internet and to find resources to help you protect your IP rights, please click on the links below. 

For more information concerning my work on IP issues,  please contact me.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you.

 

More on Intellectual Property

Oct 6, 2015 Press Release

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) released the following statement on the need for transparency and accountability in the fantasy sports industry:

Aug 5, 2015 In The News

SAN FRANCISCO — Members of the Congressional Black Caucus flew to Silicon Valley this week to turn up the heat on the nation's largest tech companies to hire more African Americans.

Caucus members met with Apple's Tim Cook and Intel's Brian Krzanich as well as executives from Google, Pandora and SAP to discuss how technology companies plan to fix their troubling hiring record.

Jun 4, 2015 Press Release

Washington, DC – Today U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), a member of the House Judiciary Committee and Whip of the Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement on the FBI warrantless aerial surveillance program:

“The Federal Bureau of Investigation may have crossed the line and violated the privacy rights of the American people with its secretive warrantless aerial surveillance program.

Mar 30, 2015 In The News

With the dust from the corporate Mardi Gras settling on the streets of Austin, it’s time for some sober self-assessment.  After all, South By Southwest is supposed to be a party with a purpose.  And this year there were promising signs from the must unlikely suspects: politicians.

Dec 5, 2014 Press Release

WASHINGTON– U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08) has partnered with Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH) to pass his first piece of legislation, the Law School Clinic Certification Program of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The bipartisan bill, which has passed both houses of Congress and is expected to be signed by President Obama, will expand the current program by removing its “pilot” status, making it available to all accredited law schools in the country that meet the program’s eligibility requirements.

Sep 16, 2014 Press Release

WASHINGTON – In a moment of refreshing bipartisan collaboration, yesterday evening the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 5108 (327 – 22). The bill, sponsored by Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and co-sponsored by Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH), will benefit students, law schools and the innovation and tech community by partnering law student practitioners with inventors, small businesses and startups seeking free legal assistance on patent and trademark matters.

Jul 16, 2014 Press Release
Congressmen Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8) and Steve Chabot (R-OH) introduced H.R. 5108, legislation that would establish in law, the Law School Clinic Certification Program of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). This bill would expand the current program by removing its “pilot” status, making it available to all accredited law schools in the country that meet the program’s eligibility requirements.
Jun 16, 2014 Page
The Copyright Alliance is partnering with New York based Cravath, Swaine and Moore LLP to assist in finding potential clients for an externship program to provide free legal representation to individuals and small businesses in lawsuits involving cutting edge copyright issues. Through this initiative, Columbia law school students, under the supervision of Cravath attorneys David Marriott and David Kappos, will provide pro bono legal counsel to individuals and small businesses on copyright cases. The Copyright Alliance will accept applications on a rolling basis.
Feb 26, 2014 Press Release
The Songwriter Equity Act endeavors to modernize the music licensing system by updating provisions in the Copyright Act of 1976 to ensure songwriters are fairly compensated for their creative work. In New York, there are nearly 80,000 songwriters, composers and publishers who deserve to make a good living.
Nov 20, 2013 Press Release
“The favorable reporting of the Innovation Act out of the House Judiciary Committee is an important step in the right direction toward addressing the patent troll issue in a meaningful way. While I continue to have concern with some aspects of the legislation and its impact on legitimate patent litigants, the progress made by amending the fee shifting provision will hopefully provide a basis to move forward and find common ground on a range of issues prior to consideration of the bill on the House Floor.”