This month, C4IP is honoring Percy L. Spencer (1894-1970), whose invention of the microwave oven revolutionized how people cook and eat around the world. Despite never completing elementary school, Spencer taught himself radio engineering while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War I, and subsequently became a successful engineer at Raytheon Corporation. While working
Strong, consistent IP protections throughout U.S. history enabled the creation of innovative and useful technologies that we use regularly today. From electricity to health care, every aspect of our lives has benefited greatly from IP, as shown by these historical examples from the month of May: 1888: On May 1, Nikola Tesla received a patent
May Highlights: PERA and PREVAIL Return to the Congressional Docket The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) and the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership (PREVAIL) Act remain two of the most vital patent policy reforms under consideration today. Both bills would make it easier for inventors to obtain and defend patent rights on
Dear Big Tech Lobbyists, Your letter to President Trump was full of factual errors and misleading claims. Please see my comments below and redo the assignment to instead explain why standard essential patents are so important to America’s economic competitiveness. Sincerely, Professor SEPs
In a new piece for U.S. News & World Report, former Chair of the Democratic National Committee and Governor of Vermont Howard Dean argues that strong IP protections are essential for safeguarding the innovation necessary to combat future pandemics. He points to the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines as a case study: decades of patent-protected
Congress is considering several ill-conceived bills that purport to address abuses in the patent system, but would in reality weaken core intellectual property protections, undermine U.S. innovation leadership, and benefit foreign competitors at America’s expense. Last month, we examined the flaws behind two of them: the Drug Competition Enhancement Act and the Affordable Prescriptions for
Former USPTO Director and C4IP Co-Chair David Kappos is sounding the alarm on an emerging international threat to American innovation: the growing push to strip US companies of their intellectual property rights. In a new IAM op-ed, Kappos highlights efforts by global institutions like the WTO and WHO to weaken IP protections — first by waiving patents for COVID-19 vaccines…
C4IP is honoring Norman Joseph Woodland (1921-2012) and Bernard Silver (1924-1963), whose invention of the barcode forever changed the way goods are tracked, sold, and managed worldwide. Woodland and Silver, who were both graduate students at Drexel Institute of Technology, developed the idea for their invention in 1948 when Silver overheard a food chain executive
Strong, consistent IP protections throughout U.S. history enabled the creation of innovative and useful technologies that we use regularly today. From recreation to transportation, every aspect of our lives has benefited greatly from IP, as shown by these historical examples from the month of April: 1903: On April 28, Luigi Bezzerra received a patent for
April Highlights: C4IP’s Government Agenda Leads the Way on IP Reform The intellectual property system that has powered American prosperity for over 200 years is facing increased threats — from uncertainty surrounding the patent eligibility of emerging technologies like AI to patent and trademark manipulation by foreign adversaries like China. But with those challenges come
Every April 26, World Intellectual Property Day invites us to celebrate the critical role that intellectual property (IP) plays in enabling the technological innovation that drives human progress. This year’s theme is the intersection of music and IP. Behind every beat, chart-topping hit, and creative breakthrough is a foundation of strong IP protections. Copyrights, patents,
C4IP is recognizing Mary Anderson (1866-1953), whose patented invention of the windshield wiper improved vehicle safety and paved the way for modern automotive technologies. Born in Greene County, Alabama, Anderson visited New York City in 1902 where she observed that trolley car drivers had to open their windows in rain or snow to see the
