The increasing ubiquity of artificial intelligence (AI) has introduced uncertainties around the copyright protection of software developed through both open- and closed-source models. For small business software developers, like ACT | The App Association members, who both deploy and use AI, these uncertainties disproportionately harm the ability to create competitive [...]
Each year, members of ACT | The App Association fly into DC for four days of policy education and advocacy on Capitol Hill. This year, AppCon was particularly special; it's been five years since our last full-scale and in-person conference, and the biggest one yet! With more than 50 members from 41 member [...]
As the U.S. Patent and Trade Office (USPTO) forges ahead with its Strategic Plan for 2022-2026, it has outlined the following proposed five central goals to realize its mission and vision of overseeing a fair and effective patent system: Promote innovation and global competitiveness; Promote efficient delivery of reliable intellectual [...]
On March 6, 2024, ACT | The App Association led a briefing on Capitol Hill to discuss the dissonance between Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and recent arguments to enable broad rights to repair consumer devices. We were joined by experts Devlin Hartline, Legal Fellow, Hudson [...]
Generative artificial intelligence (GAI) has been shown to support small business innovation in several ways. For example, small companies use GAI in ways that reduce time, cost, and efficiency barriers, advancing avenues for expansion, and otherwise enabling innovation. Yet, potential consequences from utilizing GAI as a commercial tool, including the [...]