The Top Three SEP Takeaways from Ericsson v. Lenovo
On October 24, 2024, the Federal Circuit took a key step in preventing standard-essential patent (SEP) holders from evading their voluntary commitments to license on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. By reversing a North Carolina federal court’s denial of Lenovo’s request for an anti-suit injunction (ASI) against Ericsson, the court reinforced that SEP licensing practices should uphold fair standards, benefiting small business innovators who rely on a predictable patent system. In this case, Ericsson sought injunctions in Brazilian [...]
It’s Long Overdue That We Prioritize Disability Access in Technology Regulation Debates
Artificial intelligence (AI) is powering a wide variety of accessibility tools and features for Americans to address an array of disabilities. For those of us with hearing impairment, voice recognition programs transcribe speeches and lectures in real-time. Meanwhile, facial and object recognition software helps translate a user’s surroundings so that people with vision impairment can understand their surroundings in detail. And for the six to eight million Americans with some form of language impairment, software programs matching avatars with written [...]
Statement from ACT | The App Association On the 2024 Election
“We are encouraged by the incoming Trump-Vance Administration’s support for small business pro-growth policies, including agency reform and an approach to regulation that promotes and protects innovation. It is critical that the government does not get in the way of opportunity and has leaders that recognize the impact that small and medium-sized technology companies have on the U.S. economy and the jobs they support. With these shared priorities in mind, our members will continue to rely on us to [...]
What Can European Startups Expect from the EU’s New Leadership?
As elections shape new governments around the globe, small businesses are closely watching how the results will impact their ability to innovate and grow. In Europe, the re-election of Ursula von der Leyen as President of the European Commission kicks off an era of regulatory priorities that could significantly affect small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). On 17 September, von der Leyen unveiled her list of Commissioners-designate and their respective portfolios, setting the stage for the priorities of the new Commission. [...]
Always Be Filing: ACT | The App Association and Connected Health Initiative Filing Activity
October 2024 Throughout the year, our policy team submits filings with government bodies worldwide to advocate for a regulatory environment that inspires and rewards innovation. From issues around regulating artificial intelligence to digital trade, our team is ACTive on a wide range of topics that could have a positive or negative impact on our small business members driving the app economy. Below is a roundup of our filings from around the globe this past month. Title: CNIL survey re: [...]
Event Recap: Advancing Brazilian Competition Through Standard-Essential Patent Licensing Policy and Enforcement
Brazil, one of Latin America’s leading economies, is grappling with the complexities of standard-essential patent (SEP) licensing. Brazilian courts are the most recent jurisdiction to experience an influx of SEP licensing disputes that challenge their understanding of being pro-innovation and pro-patent. ACT | The App Association partnered with Legal Grounds Institute in Brazil for a discussion that dissected global trends and identified parallels experienced in the rapidly developing Brazilian SEP landscape to support national policymaking. In a conversation conducted by [...]