CT member Peter Carnes (CEO of Traffax, Inc.) testified before of the House Committee on Small Business today about “The Impact of Intellectual Property on Entrepreneurship and Job Creation”. Peter shared the stage with a really diverse group of IP owners – from ABRO, which has problems protecting its trademarks, [...]
Today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued its opinion in Bilski v. Kappos, finding that Bilski’s patent was not valid, but reaffirming the patentability of methods and software. Those in the "IP Sucks" camp were hoping the court would embrace their vision and overturn the entire concept software patents. Thankfully, their hopes and dreams lie shattered on the floor soaked in tears, much like my hopes for a USA semifinal birth in the World Cup.
Today, Free Press, an organization dedicated to free speech and media on the internet, decided to take on the mantle of a small business advocacy group, without bothering to look what small business actually needs. Free Press called for the FCC to "take immediate action to solve to competition problem", but what they want would not result in a single new piece of dark fiber being lit, or even one new rack of edge caching servers being bought. Instead, more lawyers will be paid to argue about new ways to regulate an industry that is already regulated.
A while back we did a paper looking at the CPU marketplace and how new chips help to foster new software sales. A chart from Gizmodo sums up one of our points: Every chip manufacturer is playing in the iPad/Slate/tablet game.
Today, the Obama administration announced an ambitious new directive for improving transparency and openness in government practices - and the role technology can play in improving access to information. ACT fully supports the administration's move to clarify the rules for agencies, and set up clear plans and timelines, and was please to see some of our "best practices" make it into the directive.