FTC’s Non-compete Proposal, Competition in Ticketing Services, and the Effectiveness of AI in Content Moderation
This week in Washington IP news, Congress is back in session with a light week of hearings including a Senate Judiciary hearing on competition in live entertainment. Elsewhere, there is a U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) training session on the patent appeals process, and a discussion about President Biden’s tech agenda from the ITIF.
Tuesday, January 24
Hudson Institute
The FTC, Labor Markets, and Agency Authority: A Discussion with Maureen Ohlhausen
At 10:00 AM on Tuesday, online video webinar
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent proposal to ban non-compete clauses in employment contracts has left split opinions in the business and technology world. The FTC claims it will be a boon to employees and increase wages by $300 billion while helping stimulate innovation. However, if implemented it is likely to run into legal challenges from various state and federal institutions. Hudson Senior Fellow Harold Furchtgott-Roth is hosting this discussion with Maureen K. Ohlhausen, former FTC chairman.
Senate Judiciary Committee
That’s the Ticket: Promoting Competition and Protecting Consumers in Live Entertainment
At 10:00 AM on Tuesday, Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226 and online
The Senate Judiciary Committee is holding this hearing in response to Ticketmaster’s poor handling of Taylor Swift ticket sales in November of last year. The committee will look at the anti-competitive nature of the merger between two ticketing giants Ticketmaster and Live Nation and how it impacts consumers looking to purchase tickets to live events.
United States Patent and Trademark Office
SOaR Joint Voices: Featuring the patents appeal process and highlights from the USPTO Texas Regional Office
At 2:00 PM on Tuesday, online video webinar
This stakeholder training focuses on how to appeal a patent application decision in front of the Patent Trial and Appeals Board (PTAB). Additionally, the hosts will share resources with inventors and provide a general overview of the appeals process. Hope Shimabuku, Director of the Texas Regional Office (TXRO) will also share resources at the event for stakeholders in TXRO’s region.
Wednesday, January 25
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
Should Congress Pass President Biden’s Tech Agenda?
At 10:30 AM on Wednesday, online video webinar
President Biden’s administration has set out an agenda to “tackle the shortcomings of Big Tech” by reforming Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and increasing competition in the technology sector. The ITIF panel, featuring leaders from technology trade associations and think tanks, will discuss how feasible and desirable this agenda is.
American Enterprise Institute
Is Artificial Intelligence Effective at Content Moderation?
At 3:00 PM on Wednesday, online video webinar
Artificial intelligence is widely used for content moderation, ranging from removing illegal content to recognizing copyrighted material. This talk will look more broadly at how far AI should be deployed for content moderation purposes.
Thursday, January 26
The Path to a Patent, Part III: Patent searching
On Thursday, January 26 from 2-3:30 p.m. ET, the USPTO will hold part three of the Path to a Patent series, where topics including preliminary searching, the Seven-Step Strategy and resources for patent searching will be discussed. The Path to a Patent quarterly series offers training in IP basics for independent inventors, entrepreneurs, and small businesses. More information is available at email [email protected] or [email protected].
Image Source: Deposit Photos
Image ID: 24955805
Author: izanbar
Alec Pronk
Alec is a freelance journalist and editor who has covered a broad range of topics ranging from international law to US foreign policy. He holds a master’s degree in political […see more]
