Patent Trolling is a Problem. Congress Should Step Up
In addition to being entrepreneurs and innovators, many ACT | The App Association members are patent holders. Their valuable intellectual property (IP) is the lifeblood of their businesses, allowing them to compete in crowded markets. The United States has many venues in which to protect IP, including the International Trade Commission (ITC), which hears cases of patent misuse and abuse by foreign companies to help protect domestic manufacturing and other types of business. Although the ITC has important functions, it [...]
Investing in Innovation: Full Expensing in the UK
ACT | The App Association, along with more than 200 other businesses and trade bodies, recently sent a letter urging the UK government to make full expensing a permanent feature of the UK tax system in the 2023 Autumn Statement, which provides tax policy and rate updates. Our advocacy was successful, resulting in full expensing subsequently being announced by the Chancellor. Permanent full expensing will mean that UK business investment in IT equipment and machinery can continue to be deducted [...]
Deceptive Advertising? The FTC Has Trouble Backing Up Its Claims
On Friday, the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) case against Amazon reached another milestone as Amazon filed its motion to dismiss (MTD). Straightforwardly, Amazon pointed out that the FTC failed to state a valid claim, mainly because it provided no evidence of the harm to competition and consumers it alleges took place. Fortunately for small companies that rely on the online marketplace model—like ACT | The App Association members—it will be difficult for Judge John Chun to ignore the glaring weaknesses [...]
ACT | The App Association Report Illuminates Small Businesses’ Impact in AI, Urges Policy Inclusivity
Washington, D.C., [December 6, 2023] – ACT | The App Association released "Small Businesses and Entrepreneurs: An Indispensable Force in AI," a comprehensive report showcasing small businesses’ crucial role in the broader AI sector. While new to wider public awareness, small and medium businesses like the App Association’s members have been working with the intricacies of AI technology for decades. They have adapted to and are at the forefront of its innovative application, contributing significantly to an industry valued at [...]
Event Recap: App Publisher Successes
With Congress’ renewed focus on addressing policy challenges after voting on government funding in November, ACT | The App Association and the Developers Alliance seized the opportunity to host a briefing focused on the relationship between small business successes and app store platforms. The presentation, “Maximizing Small App Publisher Success with Mobile App Stores,” featured opening remarks by Representative Jay Obernolte (R-CA-23), a presentation on a recently conducted small tech business survey on app platforms, and a panel discussion highlighting [...]
Event Recap – Copyright’s Digital Dilemma: The Benefits and Risks of Generative AI
On November 15, 2023, ACT | The App Association hosted a Capitol Hill briefing that featured a conversation between copyright experts and small businesses to educate members of Congress about the benefits and risks of generative artificial intelligence (GAI) for copyright rights holders. GAI has accelerated creation and innovation for businesses by employing an independent process to generate content, such as text, images, and videos, with little human intervention, offering incredible efficiencies to consumers and businesses. This process improves upon [...]