Congressman Issa, Senator Blackburn Introduce Bill to Safeguard U.S. Intellectual Property, Block Presidential Seizing of Patents

Statement

Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-50), Ranking Member for the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet and Senator Marsha Blackburn (TN), member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the No Free TRIPS Act. The bill would require any presidential administration to receive congressional approval to waive targeted portions of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) for all members of the World Trade Organization.

The timeliness of the legislation relates specifically to current efforts by the Biden Administration to waive the IP rights of inventors to pursue what it insists -- without evidence -- is the only path to increased global vaccination.

"Intellectual property and the patents that protect it are more than pieces of paper. They are the magic of the mind and the flourishing of the creative spirit. The medical innovation and scientific rigor that developed the COVID-19 vaccines, for example, are no less an invention, and it is unacceptable for this President -- or any other -- to seize control of hard-earned IP without due process or concern," said Congressman Issa. "The legislation that Sen. Blackburn and I have crafted will preserve creativity, promote modernization, and safeguard the national interest."

"President Trump's Operation Warp Speed proved the life-saving capabilities of the private sector, but for some reason the Democrats are on a mission to stop this innovation in its tracks," said Senator Blackburn. "I am leading the charge to stop Joe Biden's plan to waive the intellectual property rights of vaccine manufacturers. Without the power of free market innovation, we will lose any chance we have at successfully managing another global public health crisis."

A copy of the full bill text can be found HERE.

Source