Inflation’s Impact on Small Business, Trademark Fee Changes, and AI Regulation
This week in Washington IP news, the House of Representatives is busy with several hearings related to innovation. The House Committee on Small Business is looking at inflation’s impact on small businesses, while another House subcommittee looks at how tax policy can stimulate U.S. innovation. Elsewhere, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) discusses whether the United States needs further regulation on artificial intelligence.
Monday, June 5
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Trademark Public Advisory Committee fee setting hearing
At 1:00 PM on Monday, Clara Barton Auditorium South 600 Dulany St., Alexandria, VA and online livestream
On Monday, the Trademark Public Advisory Committee (TPAC) is holding a public hearing on the USPTO’s latest proposed changes to trademark fees. All the proposed changes are available to view on the USPTO website. TPAC Chair David Cho and USPTO Director Kathi Vidal will make welcoming remarks before the proposed fees are discussed.
Tuesday, June 6
House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet
IP and Strategic Competition with China: Part II – Prioritizing U.S. Innovation Over Assisting Foreign Adversaries
At 10:00 AM on Tuesday, 2141 Rayburn House Office Building and online livestream
On Tuesday, the House IP subcommittee is holding this hearing to examine the impact of recent White House policy on IP protections from foreign governments. The committee members will also more broadly discuss policy impacts on the U.S. innovation economy and the country’s technological leadership. Several industry experts and academics are slated to provide witness testimony.
Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access
American Ingenuity: Promoting Innovation Through the Tax Code
At 10:00 AM on Tuesday, 2360 Rayburn House Office Building and online livestream
On Wednesday, this subcommittee will discuss different tax policy options that could stimulate innovation in the United States. More specifically, the subcommittee will debate the merits of increasing R&D tax breaks for small businesses. Per usual for Congress, this is pitched as a way to better compete with China, which the subcommittee says has an R&D tax incentive 2.7 times as generous as the United States.
IPWatchdog and WIPO
PCT Update & Best Practices
At 11:00 AM on Tuesday, online webinar
On Tuesday, IPWatchdog and the World Intellectual Property Organization are collaborating to provide the most up-to-date information about the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The PCT is the best tool currently available to seek international patent protection in multiple jurisdictions, and best practice tips for both the international and national phases of the PCT procedure will be shared at this event. Attendees will hear from Matthias Reischle, Director of the PCT Legal Division of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), John White, CEO & Managing Director of the PCT+ Learning Center (PCT+LC), and Gene Quinn, Founder, President & CEO of IPWatchdog.
Information Technology and Innovation Foundation
Does the US Need a New AI Regulator?
At 1:00 PM on Tuesday, virtual webinar
On Tuesday, ITIF is hosting a panel discussion about the future of AI regulation in the United States. Proponents of AI regulation say it is necessary to protect jobs, IP holders, and the global economy. On the other hand, AI enthusiasts argue that further regulation would hamstring innovation and current regulations are already sufficient. At this event, you will hear various perspectives from ITIF’s panel about one of the world’s hottest topics.
Wednesday, June 7
House Committee on Small Business
Prices on the Rise: Examining the Effects of Inflation on Small Businesses
At 2:00 PM on Wednesday, 2360 Rayburn House Office Building and online livestream
On Wednesday, the House Small Business Committee will attempt to tackle inflation’s impact on U.S. small businesses. From its peak of just over 9% last June, the U.S. inflation rate has been slowly falling. Nonetheless, inflation remains at a high point compared to the previous 10 years and is hovering around 5% currently. Witnesses for this hearing include Silvia Saldana Lee, Executive Vice President and Chief Lending Officer at First Community Bank, and Mike Konczal, Director of the Roosevelt Institute.
Thursday, June 8
IPWatchdog and Anaqua
Return on Patent Investment – Extracting Value from an Existing Portfolio
At 12:00 on Tuesday, online webinar
On Thursday, hear about the best strategies to extract the maximum possible value from your patent portfolio at the Anaqua-sponsored IPWatchdog event. During the webinar, speakers will explore various approaches to extracting value from your patent portfolio, including patent sales, licensing, standards licensing, and technology transfers. The expert panel includes Bruce Berman, Chief Executive Officer of Brody Berman Associates and the Chairman & Co-Founder of the Center for Intellectual Property Understanding, Louis Carbonneau, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tangible IP, LLC, and Gene Quinn, Founder, President & CEO of IPWatchdog.
