Embassy Sponsors Monterrey Workshop on Protecting Intellectual Property Rights

Statement by Ambassador Antonio O. Garza
For Immediate Release

Mexico City, December 6, 2007 – “I am pleased to announce that the U.S. Embassy, the U.S. Consulate General Monterrey, and the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) hosted a three-day workshop from December 3-5 to raise awareness about the dangers of counterfeit products, and to increase Mexican-U.S. cooperation in protecting intellectual property rights.  The workshop, ‘Effective Cooperation for Fighting Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Crime,’ provided key government leaders from Northern Mexico with greater information about the economic and security benefits of effective IPR protection.

“International and interagency cooperation to protect intellectual property rights is essential for keeping illegal goods out of the United States, but it also plays an important role in protecting consumers in in both countries from dangerous counterfeit products. 

“At the Monterrey workshop, participants shared best practices on developing collaboration among federal, state, and municipal officials, as well as the private sector, in the fight to protect IPR from pirates and counterfeiters.  The workshop was kicked off by Consul General Bruce Williamson and Jose Luis Cervantes, head of PGR's Specialized IPR Crime Unit.  Other participants included federal IPR enforcement officers, judges, top law enforcement and economic officials from key northern states and cities, as well as academics and business representatives, including members of the American Chamber of Commerce IPR Committee. 

“The workshop in Monterrey followed the successful five-day training session on IPR held in Veracruz in July.  The United States will continue to build on it successful relationship with Mexico to advance the protection of intellectual property rights on both sides of the border.”