---
kind: "section"
citation: "19 U.S.C. § 3581"
title: "19"
title_heading: "Customs Duties"
number: "3581"
heading: "Objectives in intellectual property"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/19/3581"
units:
  - "Chapter 22 — Uruguay Round Trade Agreements"
  - "Subchapter III — Additional Implementation of Agreements"
  - "Part A — Foreign Trade Barriers and Unfair Trade Practices"
---

# §3581. Objectives in intellectual property


It is the [objective](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=3) of the [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9)—

- (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](/usc/19/3511.md?p=d-15),
- (2) to seek enactment and effective implementation by foreign [countries](/usc/19/1677.md?p=3) of laws to protect and enforce intellectual property rights that supplement and strengthen the [standards](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=5) of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights referred to in [section 3511(d)(15) of this title](/usc/19/3511.md?p=d-15) 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](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) [persons](/usc/19/1683.md?p=8) 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](/usc/19/3501.md?p=8) to ensure that it is consistent with other [United States](/usc/19/1683.md?p=9) [objectives](/usc/19/2576b.md?p=3), 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](/usc/19/3501.md?p=8) and WIPO.

## Source credit

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

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Pub. L. 103–465, title III, § 316, Dec. 8, 1994, 108 Stat. 4943, provided that: 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]. 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].”