Senators Press Obama To Name IP Czar

The PRO IP Act of 2008 created the position of Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator within the Executive Office of the President. Now four driving forces behind the law -- Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT), ranking member Arlen Specter (R-PA), and Sens Evan Bayh (D-IN) and George Voinovich (R-OH) -- are pushing President Barack Obama to fill the position. Contenders include Victoria Espinel, who served as the first assistant trade representative for IP, and Shira Perlmutter, a former associate general counsel for Time Warner.