GAO STUDY ON PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF MANUFACTURERS.

SEC. 501. GAO STUDY ON PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF MANUFACTURERS.(a) Study.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study to help determine how the Federal Government could better protect the intellectual property of manufacturers by 122 STAT. 4278 quantification of the impacts of imported and domestic counterfeit goods on—(1) the manufacturing industry in the United States; and(2) the overall economy of the United States.(b) Contents.—In conducting the study required under subsection (a), the Comptroller General shall examine—(1) the extent that counterfeit manufactured goods are actively being trafficked in and imported into the United States;(2) the impacts on domestic manufacturers in the United States of current law regarding defending intellectual property, including patent, trademark, and copyright protections;(3) the nature and scope of current statutory law and case law regarding protecting trade dress from being illegally copied;(4) the extent which such laws are being used to investigate and prosecute acts of trafficking in counterfeit manufactured goods;(5) any effective practices or procedures that are protecting all types of intellectual property; and(6) any changes to current statutes or rules that would need to be implemented to more effectively protect the intellectual property rights of manufacturers.(c) Report.—Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study required under subsection (a).