Critics of the U.S. patent system are increasingly targeting follow-on innovation in the biopharmaceutical sector. In an effort to weaken follow-on patents — or those issued after a product has already been introduced — they claim that these innovations are trivial, extend exclusivity unfairly, and drive up drug costs. But as a new report from
C4IP is launching a new Q&A series to periodically spotlight the insights and interests of our coalition’s leaders and other prominent IP advocates. In March, we caught up with our new Chief Operating Officer, John Cabeca. From global IP dynamics to policy roadblocks to favorite places he’s visited — John shares his thoughts below: C4IP:
March was a busy month for C4IP! We added to our leadership and engaged in advocacy on a variety of issues, from patent eligibility for AI inventions to the enforcement of U.S. patent rights abroad. Here’s a roundup of all that we accomplished over the past month: On April 26, C4IP will celebrate World IP
Strong, consistent IP protections throughout U.S. history enabled the creation of innovative and useful technologies that we use regularly today. From public health to phone calls, every aspect of our lives has benefited greatly from IP, as shown by these historical examples from the month of March: 1912: On March 12, Ada Henry Van Pelt
Discussions about China’s treatment of intellectual property have recently intensified in Washington, with some policymakers weighing more drastic measures to counteract perceived abuses. While concerns about China’s approach to IP are justified, some commonly repeated claims mischaracterize the problem — potentially leading to policy decisions that could backfire on American innovators. As policymakers consider responses
C4IP is recognizing John R. Pierce (1910-2002), the visionary engineer whose work on communications satellites paved the way for global connectivity. Pierce’s early fascination with electronics and radio waves led him from his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, to Caltech and then to Bell Labs, where he spent over 35 years as a prolific inventor
In their new opinion piece published in The Hill, C4IP Co-Chairs and former USPTO Directors Andrei Iancu and David Kappos call attention to a growing threat to American innovation: the erosion of patent enforcement, which in recent years has allowed intellectual property theft to go largely unpunished. Even after securing a patent and successfully proving
As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it’s important to recognize the vital role women have played in shaping innovation — like Mary Anderson, who patented the windshield wiper in 1903, or Jennifer Doudna, inventor of the CRISPR gene-editing tool. Historically, strong intellectual property protections have empowered women to turn their groundbreaking ideas into transformative inventions.
Strong, consistent IP protections throughout U.S. history enabled the creation of innovative and useful technologies that we use regularly today. From telecommunications to trade, every aspect of our lives has benefited greatly from IP, as shown by these historical examples from the month of February: 1990: On February 13, Klein Gilhousen, Irwin Jacobs, and Lindsay
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
Opponents of patent rights continue to propagate the false narrative that large numbers of “bad patents” pose an existential threat to inventors and the future of our innovation ecosystem. The 2024 “Year in Review” article published by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is a notable example of this. It claims that to combat a glut
C4IP is recognizing Warren S. Johnson (1847-1911), who helped millions of Americans live in comfort with his invention of the first temperature regulation system. Growing up in rural Wisconsin in the mid-1800s, Johnson’s passion for learning led him to embark on a career as a teacher and school administrator despite lacking a formal education. As
