WASHINGTON, April 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) today honored innovators, creators, and defenders of intellectual property (IP) at the 2^nd Annual IP Champions Conference in recognition of their significant contributions to promoting and protecting IP. Today's event and the 2014 awardees demonstrated the positive impact IP has on the innovative process across a diverse array of businesses, and its role in safeguarding the marketplace for consumers.

"Intellectual property rights are the cornerstone of our innovative economy and are critical to dozens of industries and millions of consumers across the globe," said David Hirschmann, president and CEO of the GIPC. "We thank this year's IP Champions for the tremendous contributions they have made toward growing our economy and enhancing our lives."

"When we talk about making decisions today that will impact our children and grandchildren tomorrow, intellectual property is one of the areas we can do the most good," said Representative Doug Collins (GA-09). "Encouraging innovation by ensuring it will be rewarded and protected builds our economy today and sets the stage for a brighter tomorrow. Any time spent looking for ways we can do this is time well spent indeed, and I applaud the Chamber's work in putting this event together."

The 2014 IP Champions awards were given to:

• David Lowery, Musician and Lecturer, Terry College of Business University of Georgia, for his effort to educate students about the important value of copyrights
• Mark Cohen, Senior Counsel, U.S. Commerce Department, Patent and Trademark Office, for his dedication to improve U.S.-China relations on IP.
• U.Va. Innovation, University of Virginia, for their work in bridging the gap from innovation and entrepreneurship, with examples like scientist Reza Monazami who developed a technology which mitigates temperatures emitted by our electronics, causing them to operate cooler, more efficiently, and in a less costly manner.
• Robauto, INC, for the innovative and cutting edge technology to treat autism through robots.
• "Be Safe. Buy Smart." a consumer awareness campaign by The Center for Safe Internet Pharmacies, to arm individuals with information to ensure safe medicine purchases online.
• "Anti-Counterfeit Consumer Awareness Campaign" by Canon U. S. A., for highlighting the danger of counterfeit electronic goods.
• "Counterfeit: Don't buy into organized crime" by the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime for educating the public on how counterfeit goods are being used to funnel money to more nefarious efforts.
• MycroPC.com case for coordinating across multiple agencies to capture counterfeit software being sold online.
• Operation Team Player, for the successful partnership between law enforcement and private industry, including the major sports leagues, with record breaking results in the seizure of goods and websites.
• Stolen Trade Secret Materials case which prevented a scientist from absconding with over $4.7 million in research and development from his former employer to an overseas competitor.
• Baltimore Military Grade Circuits for ending efforts to traffic counterfeit goods including military grade circuits and other defense items. 
• Operation Cloud, an operation led by China's Ministry of Public Security to disrupt the production, distribution, and sale of illicit oncology medicines. 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

www.uschamber.com            @USChamber            www.freeenterprise.com

PERMALINK

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131201/DC24951LOGO

SOURCE U.S. Chamber of Commerce