NAJI: California Attorney General Halts IP Theft Undermining California Manufacturers

WASHINGTON, Dec. 28, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, California's Attorney General Kamala Harris announced a settlement ending unfair competition and IP theft by Pratibha Syntex Ltd., an apparel manufacturer based in India.

"We commend AG Harris for her ongoing efforts to level the playing field for California companies by stopping unfair competition and IP theft," said Rob McKenna, NAJI President and former Attorney General of Washington State. "This landmark settlement is a tremendous victory in the fight against unfair competition and shines a spotlight on the issue of IP theft and its serious impacts on American jobs and economic growth. When foreign competitors steal our IT and IP and use it to compete unfairly against American companies, we not only lose jobs and reduce growth, we also discourage our innovators' creative and entrepreneurial spirit. We simply cannot afford to allow unfair competition to steal our future."

In the announcement, AG Harris was quoted saying: "Pratibha Syntex engaged in illegal business practices that placed California garment companies at a disadvantage, while hurting American software companies' ability to develop new and innovative products. Businesses around the globe should be on notice that the state of California will hold them accountable for stealing intellectual property to unfairly undercut their competition."

California manufacturers sector alone lost an estimated $22 billion in revenue and 4,400 jobs between 2002 and 2012 due to global companies using pirated American software, according to a report by the Harvard Business School, the National Association of Manufacturers and NAJI.

AG Harris is one of nine state Attorneys General to take action leveling the competitive playing field for manufacturers.

About NAJI:
NAJI is a nonprofit organization committed to helping U.S. manufacturers and other businesses stop unfair competition resulting from the theft of intellectual property. For more information or to learn more about NAJI's free legal services for U.S. manufacturers, visit www.NAJI.org or contact Kara Horton, [email protected].

SOURCE National Alliance for Jobs and Innovation (NAJI)

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