50 Software Executives Come to Washington to Talk Patents, Privacy, and Internet Governance

ACT | The App Association today brings 50 software companies from across the country to the nation’s capital for its annual Washington Fly In. On Monday, participants will attend the ACT Conference on the Mobile Economy. On Tuesday they conduct over 125 meetings with Senators, Members of Congress, FTC Commissioners, and staff.

Atop the agenda is patent reform legislation currently pending in the Senate. ACT provides resources to startup and small business recipients of patent demand letters. The association also advocates for legislative reform measures that help foster innovation.

“We are excited to have leading entrepreneurs visit Washington to explain why patent reform is critical,” said ACT President Jonathan Zuck. “ACT members are rapidly growing along with the app economy which has now topped $68 billion. Their success makes them a target for predatory entities that abuse the patent system to shakedown small and emerging companies.”

Also critical to the success of ACT members and the mobile economy is the integrity of broadband infrastructure and consumers’ confidence in the safety of their private information. These are issues on which Washington officials need to hear from the startups, small business innovators, and entrepreneurs providing record growth in the tech industry.