Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Curb Theft of US Intellectual Property, Especially by China

Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) in Washington on June 16, 2020. Tom Williams/Pool/Getty Images

Senators on Capitol Hill on April 21 announced the reintroduction of a bipartisan bill that would impose harsh penalties on companies and individuals found guilty of stealing U.S. intellectual property, with the lawmakers singling out China for its “routine” theft of U.S. trade secrets.

Sens. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) reintroduced the bipartisan Protecting American Intellectual Property Act (pdf), which would require sanctions for people and firms that “engage in, benefit from, or enable the significant and serial theft of U.S. intellectual property.”