Addressing the Problem of Infringing Imports

Infringing imports present a persistent and ever-growing problem for intellectual property owners. The United States imported approximately $2.3 trillion in goods and services in 2007. The same year, United States Customs and Border Protection ("Customs") executed over 13,000 seizures of infringing imports, confiscating goods worth nearly $200 million, more than double the amount seized in 2003. Complicated distribution chains make it more difficult to locate the source of infringing imports. Establishing jurisdiction over the party ultimately responsible may also be difficult. Finally, infringers may evade injunctions by changing their business practices without altering the underlying infringing behavior...