Israel Named U.S. Intellectual Property Czar

On July 22, 2005, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that Chris Israel has been tapped as the new Coordinator of International Intellectual Property Enforcement. Israel will head the international work of the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordination Council (NIPLECC) and coordinate and supervise international intellectual property protection plans among other agencies.

Since 2004, Israel has served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the Secretary of Commerce. Prior to becoming Deputy Chief of Staff, he was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy at the Commerce Department. Before joining the Commerce Department, Israel was a public policy executive at Time Warner. He has also worked as legislative aide to Representatives Jan Meyers and Todd Tiahrt. Israel received his B.A. from the University of Kansas and his M.B.A. from the George Washington University.

The National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordination Council's mission is to coordinate domestic and international intellectual property law enforcement among federal and foreign entities. The Council consists of the following seven officials: the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office; the Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division; the Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs; a Deputy United States Trade Representative; the Commissioner of Customs; the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade; and in a consulting capacity, the Register of Copyrights.