WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) - A group of state attorneys general headed by Mississippi's Jim Hood and Washington's Rob McKenna is going to explore how state AGs can tackle intellectual property theft.

The National Association of Attorneys General created the IP Committee, with NAAG President and Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning selecting Hood and McKenna. The effort was announced Monday.

Intellectual property theft includes counterfeit prescription drugs, brake pads and contact lenses.

"Counterfeit, substandard or tainted products pose a major threat to public health and safety," McKenna said. "We need to protect consumers from buying and using fake products."

Hood said the economic effects of IP theft include lost jobs and revenue.

NAAG says the committee will focus on model legislation and law enforcement training. A federal grant given to NAAG will fund two training sessions for assistant attorneys general and local and state law enforcement.

Other AGs on the committee are Delaware's Beau Biden, Hawaii's Mark Bennett, Illinois' Lisa Madigan, Kentucky's Jack Conway, Louisiana's Buddy Caldwell, Michigan's Mike Cox, Montana's Steve Bullock, New Mexico's Gary King, Ohio's Richard Cordray and Tennessee's Robert Cooper.

From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien by e-mail at jobrienwv@gmail.com.