Commission To Examine Chinese IP Policies

A special congressional committee focused on human rights and the rule of law in China will examine next week the problem of intellectual property piracy and counterfeiting in China.

The Sept. 22 hearing before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China will focus on China's enforcement of U.S. IP rights and its efforts to implement "indigenous innovation" policies aimed at forcing foreign companies to transfer their technology to Chinese partners in order to gain access to China.

Among the issues expected to be discussed at the hearing include "trends in counterfeiting, piracy, and the enforcement of intellectual property rights in China; how China is pressuring foreign companies, including U.S. firms, to transfer advanced technology to China; and the impact on American jobs and businesses," the commission said in a news release.

Witnesses will include representatives from the AFL-CIO, American Chamber of Commerce in the People's Republic of China, and the Motion Picture Association of America.