Businesses that create and rely upon intellectual property, from large entertainment conglomerates to small biotech firms, make up among the fastest-growing sectors of the U.S. 经济. These industries also represent a significant portion of U.S. exports, with intellectual property now comprising a significant — and growing — share of the value of world trade. The proliferation of worldwide Internet access and advances in traditional distribution methods, such as transportation and shipping, now allow American businesses of all sizes to market their intellectual property throughout the world. Digital content, whether embodied in software, books, games, movies or music, can be transmitted from one corner of the world to another almost instantly.

But these unprecedented opportunities for American businesses and entrepreneurs are put at risk by criminals and criminal organizations that seek unlawfully to profit by stealing from the hard work of American artists, authors and inventors. For every new technological advancement by American business, there is, 不幸的是, a criminal who would seek to misuse it for his own illicit purposes. Criminals are responding to American innovation with their own creative methods of committing intellectual property crimes — from widespread online piracy to well-funded corporate espionage to increased trade in counterfeit pharmaceuticals and other goods.

When we fail to enforce intellectual property rights aggressively, we fail to protect some of our nation's most important and valuable resources. The theft of even a single trade secret can completely destroy a burgeoning small business. When criminals sell counterfeit drugs and medical devices to consumers, our nation's public health is compromised. And when illicit products such as counterfeit airplane parts or pirated electronic components make their way into the marketplace, they place our public safety at risk.

In light of these threats, it is imperative that the government act, and act aggressively. And that is exactly what we at the Department of Justice are doing. In cooperation with our partners across the federal government, the Department of Justice has redoubled its commitment to protecting American innovation and technology through aggressive criminal and civil enforcement of our nation&后;s intellectual property laws.

通过 进取的知识产权执法是必须的.