Strong, consistent IP protections throughout U.S. history enabled the creation of innovative and useful technologies that we use regularly today. From entertainment to housework, every aspect of our lives has benefited greatly from IP, as shown by these historical examples from the month of August: 1960: On August 23, Peter Goldmark received a patent for
August Highlights: Setting the Record Straight on the DOJ/FTC Listening Sessions The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission recently hosted listening sessions on “Lowering Americans’ Drug Prices Through Competition.” While aimed at exploring ways to expand generic and biosimilar availability, the sessions amplified misleading claims about the patent system — such as allegations of
In a new piece for Newsweek, Mircea Geoană, former NATO deputy secretary general and president of the Aspen Institute Romania, and Andrei Iancu, C4IP co-chair and former USPTO Director, warn that protecting intellectual property (IP) is not merely a trade issue, but a national security imperative. Strong and enforceable IP rights give innovators the confidence
In a piece published by Newsweek, C4IP Board Member and former U.S. Ambassador to China Gary Locke explains how, even as Chinese companies debut world-class technologies — like BYD’s lightning-quick EV charger and DeepSeek’s powerful AI model — some Chinese businesses and leaders are undermining the international agreements that underpin global innovation. Locke points to
In a new Law360 op-ed, C4IP Board Member and former Federal Judge Kathleen O’Malley explains why Congress should advance bipartisan reforms that would strengthen America’s patent system and protect innovation. She points to three bills as critical starting points. The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act would restore clarity for patent eligibility in emerging high-tech fields like
In recent months, federal policymakers have renewed calls for “Most-Favored-Nation” (MFN) drug pricing, which would tie the price of medicines in the United States to the lowest prices paid in similarly wealthy foreign countries. The policy is well-meaning and directed at a real problem: foreign countries free-ride off of American-supported innovation by implementing policies that
C4IP is honoring Charles W. Hull (born 1939), who has transformed manufacturing, medicine, and design through his invention of stereolithography — better known as 3D printing. Hull was born in Clifton, Colorado, and studied engineering physics at the University of Colorado before joining Ultraviolet Products, a company that used UV light to solidify liquid plastic
July Highlights: Congress Rejects Big Tech’s Push to Block AI Rules During last month’s deliberations on the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Big Tech lobbyists pushed to include an “AI moratorium” provision that would have imposed a 10-year ban on state-level regulation of artificial intelligence. While the proposal was framed as a well-intentioned effort
Strong, consistent IP protections throughout U.S. history enabled the creation of innovative and useful technologies that we use regularly today. From car safety to clean energy, every aspect of our lives has benefited greatly from IP, as shown by these historical examples from the month of July: 1962: On July 10, Nils Bohlen received a
Earlier this year, a coalition of technology industry lobbyists sent a letter to President Trump urging his administration to weaken protections for standard-essential patents (SEPs) — patents that protect innovations incorporated into common, standardized technologies like 5G and Wi-Fi. Their letter reflected longstanding false narratives about SEPs and claimed that weakening SEP rights would benefit
Congress is currently considering several ill-conceived bills that purport to address abuses in the patent system, but would, in reality, weaken core intellectual property protections. Among them are the Drug Competition Enhancement Act (S. 1040) and the Affordable Prescriptions for Patients Act (S. 1041). By attempting to devalue the United States’ robust intellectual property system,
A newly-released policy brief from the IP Policy Institute at the University of Akron School of Law reaffirms the finding from a 2024 Sunwater Institute report that overall patent quality in the United States is high. The Sunwater Institute study found that the USPTO grants invalid patents only 7% of the time — an impressively
