They may not have green fur or hearts that are three sizes too small. Yet counterfeiters — individuals who illegally reproduce and sell fake versions of a trademarked product — are stealing an unprecedented amount of intellectual property from underneath inventors’ trees this year. As of August, U.S. Customs and Border Protection had confiscated $2.4 billion in
Today, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative urged the World Trade Organization to postpone making a decision on expanding the TRIPS waiver. Citing the need for more information, USTR plans to ask the U.S. International Trade Commission to investigate the “market dynamics” for Covid-19 diagnostics and therapeutics. But after five months of consultations with
This week, the Senate took a major step toward bolstering America’s innovative ecosystem with the unanimous passage of the Patents for Humanity Act of 2022. The bipartisan legislation — sponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) — codifies the USPTO’s Patents for Humanity Program, which recognizes U.S. innovators who leverage their patented
The holidays are just around the corner, and many Americans have already started searching for the perfect gifts. And while they may not know it, shoppers have intellectual property protections to thank for almost every product that they’ll put in their carts in the coming weeks. It’s nearly impossible to think of a best-selling kid’s
Chinese President Xi Jinping recently made his strategic priorities abundantly clear as he stacked the highest levels of government with experts in biotechnology, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence. Officials with science and technological expertise now account for almost 40% of the party’s Central Committee — a feat not previously reached in three decades. President Xi’s deliberate promotion of these “technocrats”
A joint WTO communication released by Mexico and Switzerland earlier this month reveals just how senseless a proposed patent waiver for Covid-19 diagnostics and therapeutics is — and just how far the United States has retreated from global leadership on IP. The letter, addressed to the WTO’s TRIPS Council, comes just weeks before a critical
By December 17, the World Trade Organization TRIPS Council is obligated to decide whether to extend the current waiver on Covid-19 vaccines to therapeutics and diagnostics. During recent informal meetings of the Council, South Africa and India remained the most vocal proponents of the expanded waiver. The European Union, the United Kingdom, and the United States have yet to take
It’s no secret that the film industry looks different than it did when I worked in Hollywood decades ago. Gone are the days when eager movie-goers’ only option was to pile into theaters to watch the latest hit. Today, many Americans can enjoy watching films from the comfort of their own homes. The way we
On Wednesday, September 28, more than 100 friends of the Council for Innovation Promotion gathered to celebrate its launch. Distinguished guests included Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE), Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY). Our honored guests offered remarks at the event along with C4IP’s co-chairs, Andrei Iancu and David Kappos, and C4IP’s two
Not since the days of Thomas Edison — the prolific innovator who patented the incandescent lightbulb and a record 1,092 other breakthroughs — have inventors received so much praise. TIME named the scientists who developed the mRNA platform behind the leading Covid-19 vaccines — Kizzmekia Corbett, Barney Graham, Katalin Kariko and Drew Weissman — “Heroes
