WASHINGTON (June 8, 2026) — Today, the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP) released a new report independently authored by Professor Jonathan Barnett of the USC Gould School of Law, a leading authority on intellectual property (IP), antitrust, and innovation policy. The report examines how IP supports innovation, competition, and technological leadership across key sectors of the modern economy.
In Idea Factories: How Intellectual Property Sustains and Cultivates Technology Ecosystems, Barnett explores how IP rights enable innovation-focused firms, research institutions, and startups to develop breakthrough technologies and bring them to market through partnerships, licensing, and standards development.
Drawing on examples from industries like audio and video technology, biopharmaceuticals, wireless communications, advanced batteries, and quantum computing, the report demonstrates how IP protections help innovators commercialize research, facilitate collaboration, and support the development of interoperable technology standards.
“Professor Barnett’s research demonstrates that IP rights not only encourage innovation but also promote competition by enabling specialized innovators to collaborate with manufacturers, distributors, and other partners across the economy,” said Frank Cullen, executive director of C4IP. “His report highlights how strong IP protections enable innovators of all sizes — from startups and university researchers to established technology leaders — to transform groundbreaking ideas into products and services that benefit consumers around the world.”
To read the complete report, click here.
About the Council for Innovation Promotion: The Council for Innovation Promotion is a bipartisan coalition dedicated to promoting strong and effective intellectual property rights that drive innovation, boost economic competitiveness, and improve lives everywhere.