Washington, D.C., May 23, 2005 - Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) President Dave McCurdy today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives' passage of H.R. 32, the Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act, and thanked Congressman Joe Knollenberg (R-MI) for his leadership in sponsoring this legislation. "The fight against intellectual property theft must be a top trade priority," said McCurdy. "Passage of this legislation will help reduce piracy and send the signal that the United States is serious about this effort."

"Global trade has lifted the collective economies of numerous nations, but it has also given rise to unfair and illegal practices such as widespread counterfeiting," McCurdy added. "As we noted in our innovation playbook, The Technology Industry at an Innovation Crossroads, assurance that IP rights will be respected and protected is a major factor in encouraging business participation in a given international market. H.R. 32 will go a long way toward achieving this goal by closing loopholes that allow counterfeiters to avoid prosecution and profit from their illegal activities. H.R. 32 also serves as model legislation that can be used by other nations intent on doing their part to rid international trade of counterfeiting and intellectual property theft."

For more information on EIA's intellectual property protections policy recommendations and other proposals to bolster innovation in the U.S. download EIA's Innovation Playbook at: http://www.eia.org/docs/innovation_playbook.pdf

About EIA: The Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) is the leading advocate in Washington, D.C., for the U.S. high-tech industry. The Alliance, which traces its origins to the Radio Manufacturers Association (chartered in 1924), is a partnership of electronic and high-tech associations and companies whose mission is to promote the market development and competitiveness of the $400 billion U.S. high-tech and electronics industries through domestic and international policy efforts. EIA's corporate members - nearly 1,300 - provide products and services ranging from microscopic electronic components to state-of-the-art defense, space and industry high-tech systems, as well as the full range of telecommunications and consumer electronics products. Headquartered in Arlington, Va., the Alliance is made up of the Electronic Components, Assemblies & Materials Association (ECA); the Government Electronics & Information Technology Association (GEIA); JEDEC; the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA); and leading consumer electronics companies who participate in EIA's Environmental Issues Council. EIA is also heavily involved in cyber security issues through the Internet Security Alliance (ISAlliance), and education issues, through the National Science & Technology Education Partnership (NSTEP).