Report touts U.S. efforts to protect intellectual property

On Monday White House officials released the first report on intellectual property enforcement since the Joint Strategic Plan was enacted last year.

The report, compiled by the Office of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator, describes efforts to enforce intellectual property laws in the United States and around the world since the first Joint Strategic Plan was released last year.

"Lowering barriers to entry and creating global distribution channels, the Internet has opened markets and opportunities for American companies," wrote Victioria Espinel, U.S. intellectual property enforcement coordinator. "The Internet, however, has also allowed piracy and counterfeiting to occur on an unprecedented and global scale."

Unsurprisingly, the report is largely a pat on the back for its authors, who tout successes around the world, including the seizure of more than 90 websites accused of hosting pirated content. The report also won plaudits from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Intellectual Property Center, which also called on the administration to "expand on current efforts" and further protect intellectual property rights.