This bill makes it easier for U.S. Customs and Border Protection to share information about suspected counterfeit or pirated goods with the companies and people who own the intellectual property rights (like trademarks, patents, or copyrights). Right now, customs officials can only share information when they "suspect" a violation, but this bill changes that to "has a reasonable suspicion," which is a slightly lower bar. More importantly, the bill expands what information can be shared—it now includes details about packaging materials, shipping containers, and other information that online marketplaces, shipping companies, and freight forwarders have provided to customs officials. The bill also allows customs to share this information with "any other party with an interest in the merchandise" as the customs commissioner sees fit. Essentially, this gives trademark and patent holders better access to data that could help them identify and stop counterfeit products from entering the country, making it simpler for them to work with customs to protect their intellectual property.

To expand the sharing of information with respect to suspected violations of intellectual property rights in trade.

Moore, Blake D.

This bill expands the authority of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to provide information to&nbsp;certain persons (e.g., trademark or copyright owners) regarding suspected violations of intellectual property rights in trade.&nbsp;Under current law, if&nbsp;CBP suspects that merchandise is being imported in violation of certain trademark and copyright laws,&nbsp;it may request assistance from specified persons when determining whether the merchandise is imported in violation of these laws. To permit the party to conduct examination and testing, CBP must provide them with specified information that appears on the merchandise and&nbsp;its packaging and labels.&nbsp;This bill (1) expands the definition of person to allow CBP to request assistance from any other appropriate party with an interest in the imported merchandise, and (2) expands the scope of information that CBP is authorized to share with others to include information on and images of&nbsp;packing materials and containers.The bill allows CBP to request this assistance if it has a reasonable suspicion (currently, suspects) that the merchandise being imported is in violation of certain trademark and copyright laws.Additionally,&nbsp;CBP may provide a person with nonpublic information about the imported merchandise that was generated by an online marketplace or similar market platform, express&nbsp;consignment operator, freight forwarder, or any other entity that plays a role in the sale, importation, or facilitation&nbsp;of the merchandise&nbsp;into the United States and has been provided to, shared with, or obtained by CBP. CBP must&nbsp;provide the person with notification of the transmitted information.