Washington, D.C. - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today cited the participation of CAGW Vice President David Williams in the 2008 Pacific Rim Policy Exchange Conference held in Hong Kong June 4 and 5.  The conference brings together policy advocates from both sides of the Pacific Ocean to share free-market ideas and strategy.

“The interests of taxpayers throughout the world are interwoven by trade and the health of the global economy,” Williams said.  “We have much to gain by sharing our experiences of resisting big government and high taxes.”

Williams will be participating in a panel on Thursday called “Intellectual Property Rights: Protecting the Engine of Innovation.”  He will discuss net neutrality and its intellectual property implications.

“From the expansion of eminent domain to the free software movement, the right to retain possession of and benefit financially from property is being threatened at home and around the world,” continued Williams.  “The solution to protecting intellectual property rights must entail a comprehensive global plan incorporating education, cooperation, coordination, legislation, and enforcement.”

“This conference is about turning ideas into action.  For many participants, just the psychological effect of knowing that there are like-minded people around the world is invigorating,” Williams concluded.

CAGW has been involved in intellectual and real property issues since its inception in 1984.  Its publications include a September 2007 report “Property Rights in the 21^st Century: Don’t Steal This Paper or My Ideas.”  Williams is blogging live from the conference on www.swineline.org.

Citizens Against Government Waste is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government