WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bob McKenna, president and CEO of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), expressed gratitude to the president for quickly signing recently passed anti-counterfeiting legislation into law. The Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property (PRO-IP) Act of 2008, originally introduced in the Senate by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and George Voinovich (R-Ohio) and passed by the Senate on September 26 and the House on September 28, will strengthen the nation’s trademark and copyright laws while initiating an important study requested by MEMA on future needs of manufacturers concerning IP protection.

“This legislation will go a long way to address protection of intellectual property,” McKenna says. “More importantly, it recognizes the unique needs of manufacturers and provides for a Government Accountability Office study to address possible solutions. We are very grateful to the president and to Congress for moving this important issue forward.”

According to recent studies, motor vehicle suppliers employ 783,100 in the United States and contribute to 4.5 million domestic jobs. Suppliers provide 70% of the content of U.S.-built cars and trucks. Suppliers manufacture the parts and technology used in the production of more than 11 million new cars and trucks produced each year, and the aftermarket products necessary to repair and maintain more than 247 million vehicles on the road today.