Make the EU ex-SEP-tional: Be a friend to SME innovation and vote yes on the EU SEP Regulation
 Recently, the Legal Affairs Committee of the European Parliament took a significant step forward in advancing the much-needed standard-essential patent (SEP) regulation in the European Union that would curb SEP licensing practices that continue to harm and distort competition across consumer and enterprise markets. This development is important to the ACT | The App Association’s small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) members because they so often seek to build on standardized technologies as they create new IoT innovations, yet are [...]
Supporting Micro, Small, and Medium-Sized Business and Startup Growth and Job Creation by Making the WTO Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions Permanent
The global Micro-, Small- and Medium-sized Enterprise community has come together to urge World Trade Organization (WTO) members to make the Moratorium on Customs Duties on Electronic Transmissions permanent during the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC13), which is taking place 26 to 29 February 2024 in Abu Dhabi.We welcome any MSME organization interested in supporting the permanence of moratorium, which has been a foundation for digital economy growth and prosperity. To join this letter, please contact Brian Scarpelli at [email protected]. [...]
Developers Write Software, Parents Parent—Government Should Do Neither
Last week, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) hosted a listening session as part of its ongoing work on child safety online. This week, the Senate Judiciary Committee hosts a hearing on Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis. In both discussions, policymakers were urged to make app stores liable for providing parental notice when a child wants to download an app. The problems with this idea are that (1) to the extent it requires age verification, [...]
For EU Developers, App Store DMA Compliance Plan Presents Choices
Morgan Reed, president of ACT | The App Association, statement on Apple’s App Store DMA compliance plans: “Following the passage of the DMA, we have been waiting to see what the compliance plans would mean for our members. Our global members with EU clients and customers got some of their answers this week. “With more than 600 new APIs, a comprehensive cost calculator, and a pretty clear roadmap on tradeoffs, developers have spent the past week absorbing Apple’s announcement. For [...]
The European Green Deal hinges on the new SEP regulation
Startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are crucial to Europe's green transition, creating internet of things (IoT) devices like smart sensors and carbon footprint trackers to enhance energy efficiency. These businesses need fair licensing of standard technologies to thrive. As the European Parliament deliberates on the proposed EU Regulation on Standard-Essential Patents (SEPs), our members urge lawmakers to vote for this vital regulation. Dear Honourable Members of the European Parliament, We, the undersigned members of ACT | The App [...]