President Bush recently signed legislation that will aim to help manufacturers with intellectual property rights.

The Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute reports that the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act creates tougher civil and criminal laws against counterfeiting and piracy. The institute also says that the new law will provide greater enforcement of intellectual property violations.

The new bill will also study the impact that intellectual property violations have on U.S. manufacturers. Officials with AHRI said that the study would cover the impact of imported and domestic counterfeit goods on the U.S. manufacturing industry, as well as suggested changes that will help protect manufacturers.

According to statistics from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, intellectual property in the United States totals more than $5 trillion or 40 percent of U.S. economic growth.