Congressman Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) and Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC-08) introduced a bill that would help protect American intellectual property (IP) from China and other adversaries.
The Trade-Related Intellectual Property Protection (TRIPP) Act would prohibit any president, unless given Congressional approval, from waiving intellectual property rights for certain medical innovations, such as the coronavirus vaccines.
“Waiving IP rights for vaccine manufacturers is dangerous and unfair,” Burchett said. “It would allow our geopolitical adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party to use American medical breakthroughs to their own advantage. The United States can be a leader in global vaccine distribution without sacrificing the IP of private companies that have invested a lot of resources to develop new treatments and cures.”
Many elected officials have expressed concerns over President Joe Biden’s support for waiving IP protections on coronavirus vaccines. Doing so, they argue, will cripple American innovation and will only benefit China. Further, waiving the protections will reduce incentives for investment.
“American taxpayers and private businesses invested unprecedented resources into developing COVID-19 vaccines. This legislation will ensure U.S. intellectual property for vaccines and other medical breakthroughs is protected from waivers by the World Trade Organization, which could allow countries including China to cash in on American innovation,” Congressman Hudson said of the potential law.
For decades, China has been accused of trying to steal intellectual property and exerting influence over Americans. As previously reported by The Tennessee Star, officials have sought to limit Chinese influence by working to slow the spread of Confucius Institutes on college campuses. These organizations claim to be educational programs on Chinese culture; however, they have been suspected of serving as a front for spy and foreign influence efforts for the Chinese Communist Party.
Recently, states have taken action to prevent the spread of Confucius Institutes.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
