Industry Applauds Marti Nomination As US IP Enforcement Coordinator

‎The US IP industry is applauding the nomination of trademark attorney Daniel Marti to be the next US Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator.

Marti is managing partner of the Washington, DC office of Kirkpatrick Townsend.

According to his bio, Marti has represented clients in cases involving trademarks, false advertising, unfair competition, copyrights, trade secrets, cybersquatting and computer fraud and abuse before US federal courts, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) and the World Intellectual Property Organization.

The IPEC post has been empty since Victoria Espinel left for the Business Software Alliance one year ago.

“We are pleased to see the administration moving forward with filling this critical role and the Chamber is anxious to build on the successes and momentum” of the IPEC, David Hirschmann, president and CEO of the Chamber’s Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC), said in a statement. “As Congress recognized when it created this position in 2008 with strong bipartisan support, American consumers, workers and job creators, benefit from this critical effort to protect our creative and innovative industries.‎”

The Chamber was active in the legislation authorising the position and has made filling it a high priority, a source said.

The International IP Alliance said the coordinator “fulfills an important mission within the Administration, overseeing activities both domestically and abroad to help workers and businesses that depend on strong intellectual property rights protection,” citing statistics on jobs and economic value of IP, and urging quick confirmation of Marti.

[Update:] Meanwhile, knowledge access advocates are hopeful that Marti will approach enforcement issues with balance.

“We congratulate Mr. Marti on his appointment as the new IP Enforcement Coordinator,” said Public Knowledge. “We trust that his background in these issues means that he will appreciate the fact that enforcing IP rights is a balancing act that not only includes proceeding against suspected infringers, but also maintaining the boundaries of the law – ensuring that lawful activities aren’t chilled through the abuse of copyright, trademark, and patent laws. Such abuses can not only restrict the legitimate businesses of competitors and innovators; they can restrain open communication and be used to bypass due process. We look forward to working with Mr. Marti in his new role.”

Separately, it has been reported that the Obama administration is considering Texas federal prosecutor Sarah Saldaña for director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.