19 USC § 3581 - Objectives in intellectual property

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t19/s3581"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "19 USC § 3581 - Objectives in intellectual property"
title_number: 19
title_name: "CUSTOMS DUTIES"
section_number: "3581"
section_name: "Objectives in intellectual property"
chapter_number: 22
chapter_name: "URUGUAY ROUND TRADE AGREEMENTS"
subchapter_number: "III"
subchapter_name: "ADDITIONAL IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENTS"
part_number: "A"
part_name: "Foreign Trade Barriers and Unfair Trade Practices"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 103–465, title III, § 315, Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4942.)"
---


# § 3581. Objectives in intellectual property

It is the objective of the United States—

**(1)** to accelerate the implementation of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights referred to in section 3511(d)(15) of this title,

**(2)** to seek enactment and effective implementation by foreign countries of laws to protect and enforce intellectual property rights that supplement and strengthen the standards of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights referred to in section 3511(d)(15) of this title and the North American Free Trade Agreement and, in particular—

**(A)** to conclude bilateral and multilateral agreements that create obligations to protect and enforce intellectual property rights that cover new and emerging technologies and new methods of transmission and distribution, and

**(B)** to prevent or eliminate discrimination with respect to matters affecting the availability, acquisition, scope, maintenance, use, and enforcement of intellectual property rights,

**(3)** to secure fair, equitable, and nondiscriminatory market access opportunities for United States persons that rely upon intellectual property protection,

**(4)** to take an active role in the development of the intellectual property regime under the World Trade Organization to ensure that it is consistent with other United States objectives, and

**(5)** to take an active role in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to develop a cooperative and mutually supportive relationship between the World Trade Organization and WIPO.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 103–465, title III, § 315, Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4942.)

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

> **“(a)** **In General.—** Except as provided in subsection (b), this subtitle [subtitle B (§§ 311–316) of title III of Pub. L. 103–465, enacting this section and amending sections 2241, 2242, 2411, 2414, 2416, and 2420 of this title] and the amendments made by this subtitle take effect on the date on which the WTO Agreement enters into force with respect to the United States [Jan. 1, 1995].
> 
> **“(b)** **Section 314(f).—** The amendment made by section 314(f) [amending section 2420 of this title] takes effect on the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 8, 1994].”

, , , provided that: