Tillis, Cassidy offer legislation to end inflow of counterfeit products into U.S.

U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) on Dec. 5 unveiled bipartisan legislation to authorize U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to seize imported merchandise that infringes on a United States design patent.

“The inflow of counterfeit goods into the United States is an issue that affects American consumers and businesses alike and results in the American economy losing billions of dollars every year,” Sen. Tillis said.

Sen. Tillis introduced the Counterfeit Goods Seizure Act of 2019, S. 2987, with three cosponsors, including Sens. Cassidy and Chris Coons (D-DE), to help reduce the flow of counterfeit goods entering the United States, an illegal market that Frontier Economics Ltd. projects to have an estimated value of nearly $2 trillion by 2022.

Sen. Cassidy pointed out that “counterfeit products undermine American businesses and put families in danger.”

“Criminal organizations sell counterfeit goods to fund illegal activity,” said Sen. Cassidy. “This legislation better enables American law enforcement to combat criminal groups and protect Americans.”

S. 2987 has garnered the support of the Intellectual Property Owners Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association, and the International Trademark Association.

“Counterfeit goods brought into the United States from overseas cheat Americans who don’t get the products they expect with their money,” added Sen. Coons. “They also pose serious safety risks, line the pockets of organized crime, damage the reputations of legitimate American businesses, and rob them of hard-earned revenue.”

The measure has been referred for consideration to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee.