February Highlights: Debunking Patent Myths With Our New Video Series
In recent months, anti-patent activists have continued to spread false narratives about patent rights, claiming that companies abuse the patent system to stifle competition. To counter these common myths, C4IP launched a Patent Myth Video Series to provide brief and accessible explanations of how patents actually work — and educate viewers on the vital role they play in promoting, rather than hindering, innovation.
Throughout the past month, C4IP released the first six videos in the series, with one more on the way soon:
- C4IP Patent Myth Video Series: C4IP Co-Chairs and former USPTO Directors David Kappos and Andrei Iancu introduce the video series by explaining the critical role that patents play in driving U.S. innovation and economic growth.
Watch Now: “C4IP Patent Myth Video Series“
- C4IP Patent Myth Video Series: Introduction: This video highlights and debunks several false claims often made by opponents of patents, such as the idea that patent owners “game the system” or that patents stifle competition in the medical and communications industries.
- C4IP Patent Myth Video Series: Royalty Stacking: This video dives into the myth of “royalty stacking” — the claim that owners of standard-essential patents (SEPs) charge too much for patent licenses — and explains why SEP licenses are both fair and necessary for high-tech innovation.
- C4IP Patent Myth Video Series: Evergreening: This video disproves the narrative that companies unfairly extend their patent terms by filing unnecessary follow-on patents, explaining that new patents are only issued for new inventions.
- C4IP Patent Myth Video Series: Product Hopping: This video discredits the narrative that companies improve medications to keep prices high, explaining that continuous advancements — like reducing dosing frequency, or minimizing side effects — are crucial innovations that benefit patients.
- C4IP Patent Myth Video Series: Patent Thickets: This video debunks the claim that multiple patents on a single product create a “patent thicket,” explaining that each patented innovation, like those in smartphone cameras, is essential for technological progress and investment.
Additional Coalition Updates
- On March 4, C4IP Co-Chairs Andrei Iancu and David Kappos published an opinion essay in The Hill explaining how, by passing the RESTORE Patent Rights Act without delay, lawmakers can bring common sense fairness back to our nation’s patent system.
- On March 4, C4IP Executive Director Frank Cullen issued a statement applauding the USPTO’s rescission of a 2022 memorandum that limited certain discretionary denials of institution at the PTAB.
- On March 3, C4IP sent a letter to the House Ways & Means Subcommittee on Trade urging Congress to exercise its oversight authority to ensure that USTR fulfills its congressional mandate in the upcoming Special 301 Report.
- On March 3, C4IP Board Member Judge Paul Michel (ret.) joined an IPWatchdog panel to discuss the new administration, patent reform in Congress, and IP priorities in 2025! Click here for more information on the event.
- On February 27, C4IP Chief Counsel and Policy Officer Jamie Simpson published an opinion essay in The Engage Reader underscoring how the PREVAIL Act, IDEA Act, and the RESTORE Patent Rights Act would encourage inventors of all backgrounds to develop and commercialize their innovations, knowing that their intellectual property is secure.
“The United States stacks up well against our peers when it comes to keeping out “bad patents.” But to succeed in the battle for 21st century technological supremacy, we’ll also need to ensure that we do not keep out good patents.”
- On February 25, C4IP released a statement applauding Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Tom Cotton (R-AR), as well as Representatives Nathaniel Moran (R-TX) and Madeleine Dean (D-PA) for reintroducing the bipartisan Realizing Engineering, Science, and Technology Opportunities by Restoring Exclusive (RESTORE) Patent Rights Act.
- C4IP’s statement was featured in Law360 and IPWatchdog articles covering RESTORE’s reintroduction.
- On February 19, C4IP Executive Director Frank Cullen sent a letter to President Trump and his administration, congratulating them on the inauguration and emphasizing the crucial role of strong intellectual property protections in our innovation economy.
“Our organization shares many common goals with your administration, such as promoting new technologies, encouraging small business success, and upholding U.S. economic and job growth. Decisions made by your administration concerning intellectual property will be fundamental to meeting these objectives.”
- On February 19, C4IP issued a statement applauding the Senate confirmation of Howard Lutnick, a longtime innovation advocate and patent holder, as the new Secretary of Commerce.
- C4IP’s statement was quoted in an IPWatchdog article about the appointment of Will Covey as Acting Deputy Director of the USPTO under Lutnick’s leadership.
- On February 18, C4IP Board Member Judge Paul Michel (ret.) published an opinion essay in the International Business Times explaining why overcoming China’s technological advantages will require America to initiate comprehensive innovation reforms founded on strong IP.
“America faces a crisis. In effect, we need a crash recovery program to revive our tech sector, with special focus on our small, innovative businesses — what legendary venture capitalists like Marc Andreessen have dubbed ‘Little Tech.’”
- On February 12, C4IP Executive Director Frank Cullen issued a statement celebrating the European Commission’s decision to withdraw proposed regulations on standard-essential patents (SEPs), which would have threatened innovation across Europe and the United States.
- C4IP’s statement was quoted in an IPWatchdog article capturing the IP community’s reaction to the decision.
- On February 11, C4IP announced the creation of its Advisory Board, which consists of highly regarded intellectual property experts: Etienne Sanz de Acedo, F. Scott Kieff, Keith Kupferschmid, Steven Caltrider, Stephen Susalka, Walter Copan, and — as of February 27 — Laura Peter.
- C4IP’s Advisory Board was featured in a news roundup in IPWatchdog.
- On February 10, C4IP Co-Chair David Kappos published an opinion essay in Law360 debunking the false narrative that “patent thicketing” and “evergreening” are widespread and a barrier to innovation.
- On February 5, C4IP Co-Chair Andrei Iancu was featured in an episode of Understanding IP Matters, a podcast hosted by IPWatchdog’s Bruce Berman, in which he discussed the current IP challenges facing the Trump administration and the importance of PERA, PREVAIL, and RESTORE.
- On February 3, C4IP Executive Director Frank Cullen issued a statement applauding the Foreign Anti-Digital Piracy Act (FADPA) introduced by Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), which would empower U.S. courts to block foreign websites that enable IP theft.
- C4IP’s statement was quoted in a Forbes article about the bill.
- On February 1, C4IP Board Member Judge Kathleen O’Malley (ret.) published an opinion essay in IAM fact-checking key claims made about Bayh-Dole Act march-in rights and Section 1498 in a recent debate between C4IP Co-Chair David Kappos and Harvard Medical School professor Aaron Kesselheim.
- On January 29, C4IP Co-Chairs Andrei Iancu and David Kappos published an opinion essay in the Stanford Social Innovation Review about why protecting human creativity with IP is crucial to harnessing the full potential of artificial intelligence.
“To unlock AI’s transformative potential across fields, we must incentivize the human creativity that fuels it. Strong IP protections are key to this process.”
- On January 28, C4IP published a blog post examining the key conclusions from the USPTO’s Drug Patent and Exclusivity Study and evaluating how the study’s findings disprove common anti-patent myths.
- ICYMI: C4IP is now on Bluesky! Follow @council4ip.bsky.social for the latest updates, insights, and discussions on intellectual property and innovation.