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U.S. Government Official Educates Texas Children About Intellectual Property Theft

Posted by J Matthew Buchanan at September 14, 2005 09:30 AM

U.S. Government Official Educates Texas Children About Intellectual Property Theft
Official Reminds Kids that Illegal Downloading, Copying is a Crime

U.S. Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property Stephen Pinkos asked elementary students in Austin to help combat piracy, counterfeiting and copyright violations by refraining from illegally copying and downloading music, movies, software and computer games. Pinkos reminded the children that copying or downloading others’ property without their permission is a crime and that such theft has real consequences on our economy. Pinkos delivered his remarks to approximately 300 students at Gattis Elementary School in Round Rock, Texas on Tuesday.

“Intellectual property can be anything-a car, medicine, a toy, a video game or a CD-as long as the product began as an idea,” Pinkos told the students. “It is important that people-especially children-show respect for others' property. That includes not illegally copying and downloading video games and movies from the Internet. This is not okay-it's breaking the law.”

Pinkos' appearance at Gattis Elementary School came as part of his visit to Austin, where he and the USPTO hosted a two-day “Conference on the Global Intellectual Property Marketplace” on September 12-13, 2005. The seminar was the third in a series that the USPTO is hosting across the county to help educate American small businesses about the realities of piracy and counterfeiting.

For more information about the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s effort to educate Americans about intellectual property rights, visit www.stopfakes.gov/smallbusiness.

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