[Ip-health] USTR Schwab Announces New Office Focused on Intellectual Property

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C.
20508

USTR Press Releases are available on the USTR website at www.ustr.gov

For Immediate Release:                   Contact:  Neena Moorjani /
Stephen Norton
June 23, 2006
(202) 395-3230

USTR Schwab Announces New Office Focused on Intellectual Property

Washington, DC - Following a meeting with House Majority Whip Roy Blunt,
United States Trade Representative Susan Schwab today announced the
creation of a new Intellectual Property office, headed by Assistant U.S.
Trade Representative Victoria A. Espinel, and several additions to the
USTR team. Intellectual property issues were previously covered at USTR
in the Office of Services, Investment and Intellectual Property.

"Americans are among the world's greatest innovators, in no small part
because of the strength of our respect for intellectual property rights
in the United States," said Ambassador Schwab. "In the global economy,
maintaining protections for American innovations abroad is critical to
advancing U.S. competitiveness. Protection of Intellectual Property by
other nations is also critical to their own economic development,
including promotion of indigenous innovations, creativity and access to
innovations by consumers and promoters of innovation."

"The creation of a new office at USTR enhances our focus on protecting
intellectual property," continued Schwab.  "Since joining USTR in 2001,
Ms. Espinel has been a driving force in advancing intellectual property
protections through the World Trade Organization, our free trade
agreements, and numerous other diplomatic channels. She brings a wealth
of experience to the position, and will continue to put her skills to
great use in this new role."

USTR is increasing both financial resources and staff for the new
office, including a Chief Negotiator for Intellectual Property
Enforcement. Stanford McCoy will serve as the Chief Negotiator for
Intellectual Property Enforcement and will lead the office's
intellectual property enforcement efforts, with a special focus on
priority countries, including China and Russia.

Victoria A. Espinel - Assistant USTR for Intellectual Property

As Assistant USTR, Ms. Espinel is the USTR's chief advisor on matters
related to intellectual property and trade, and is responsible for
developing and implementing United States trade policy on intellectual
property.

Ms. Espinel is the principal U.S. trade negotiator on intellectual
property.  Her responsibilities including intellectual property
negotiations at the World Trade Organization and in the U.S. free trade
agreements.  In addition, her office directs bilateral discussions with
numerous trading partners on a wide variety of intellectual property
issues.

Ms Espinel also oversees enforcement of trade commitments on
intellectual property. The Office of Intellectual Property at USTR
authors the annual "Special 301" review of international protection of
intellectual property rights, and chairs the interagency committee that
contributes to this report.  The office will continue to increase its
focus on implementation and enforcement of intellectual property
obligations under both the WTO agreements and the US free trade
agreements as well as use other tools at its disposal, including reviews
under trade preference systems and the Special 301 process.

Ms. Espinel joined USTR in 2001 as Associate General Counsel and served
as the agency's lead lawyer focused on intellectual property issues.
She was promoted in March 2004 to Deputy Assistant USTR for Intellectual
Property.

Before joining USTR, Ms. Espinel was with the law firms of Covington &
Burling in London and Washington, D.C. and Sidley, Austin, Brown & Wood
in New York.

Ms. Espinel is the author of several published articles on international
copyright issues.  She holds an LLM from the London School of Economics,
a J.D. from Georgetown University Law School, and a B.S. in Foreign
Service from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.

Stanford McCoy - Chief Intellectual Property Negotiator for Enforcement

Mr. McCoy previously served as an Associate General Counsel in the USTR
Office of General Counsel.  He is an experienced trade litigator and
served as principal advisor to U.S. trade negotiators on intellectual
property trade matters, including the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects
of Intellectual Property Rights, the intellectual property provisions of
U.S. free trade agreements, and the annual "Special 301" review.  He has
represented the United States as lead attorney in both WTO and North
American Free Trade Agreement dispute settlement proceedings.  He has
also been extensively involved in U.S. Government efforts to improve
enforcement of intellectual property rights in China and elsewhere
around the world.

Prior to joining USTR, Mr. McCoy was with the law firm of Covington &
Burling in Brussels, Belgium and Washington, D.C., where his practice
included international intellectual property enforcement, international
trade law, and other matters.   He is a graduate of DePauw University
and the University of Virginia School of Law.