BSA TechPost

Patents Pending

posted by Tim Molino in Industry, Intellectual Property February 12, 2013

Feb 12

Recognizing the complex, rapidly evolving nature of software innovation, the US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has formed a partnership with the software community and is holding two “roundtable” discussions this month to solicit input on how best to improve the quality of the software-related patents it issues. I spoke for BSA today at the first of these roundtable discussions, held on the campus of Stanford University in Silicon Valley, and my message was simple: The ability to patent software is critical for promoting innovation, but the process can always be improved. Software is no different from any other class of invention in that regard.
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Tags patents, PTO, Software

The Business Case for Balanced Data Privacy Regulation

posted by Thomas Boué in Data Stewardship January 28, 2013

Jan 28

Activities are taking place around the world today to commemorate Data Privacy Day as industry, policymakers, and other stakeholders promote their collective responsibilities with regard to data privacy and information security.

The Boston Consulting Group projects the Internet economy will reach $4.2 trillion in G-20 markets by 2016, with the Internet contributing up to 8 percent of GDP in some countries. According to IDC, spending on public cloud computing services will grow by over 27% by 2015. With the transition to a data-driven, Internet economy underway at full pace, debates around data protection and user privacy are also heating up around the world. (more…)

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Tags data privacy, data protection, europe

Four Trends to Watch in 2013

posted by Matt Reid in Industry January 2, 2013

Jan 02

There have been a number of important inflection points in the growth and maturation of the global software industry — the extension of copyright law to cover machine-readable code, the birth of the PC, the commercialization of the Internet, and the advent of cloud computing, to name a few.

As we enter 2013, the industry finds itself at another sort of inflection point, which Robert Holleyman described during BSA’s recent Global Strategy Summit: “Companies like those in BSA are innovating rapidly, but they face daunting challenges around the world as courts, lawmakers, and regulators adopt policies that are closing off access to key markets, undermining the business of developing and commercializing intellectual property, and imperiling the growth and evolution of cloud computing.”

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Mexico’s Foresight

posted by Jodie Kelley in Piracy November 30, 2012

Nov 30

Last August I wrote about how Mexico has quietly become one of the world’s leaders in protecting and safeguarding intellectual property. In doing so, Mexico is putting the foundation in place for long-term economic growth and prosperity. And there’s a lot that every government and company can learn from Mexico’s example. (more…)

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Tags economy, global, mexico, piracy

Inflection Points for Washington and the Software Industry

posted by Robert Holleyman in Cloud Computing, Intellectual Property, Opening Markets November 28, 2012

Nov 28

The Obama Administration and Congress have reached an inflection point in the wake of the 2012 election: The country is facing a steep “fiscal cliff” that no one wants to go over, but steering away from it will require policymakers to make difficult budgeting choices that few people will like.

The software industry meanwhile has come to an inflection point of a different sort: Companies like those in BSA are innovating rapidly, but they face daunting challenges around the world as courts, lawmakers, and regulators adopt policies that are closing off access to key markets, undermining the business of developing and commercializing intellectual property, and imperiling the growth and evolution of cloud computing.

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Tags Cloud Computing, fiscal cliff, global IT economy, Global markets, Green Card system, Intellectual Property

Kappos Offers Fact-Driven Analysis of the Software Patent System

posted by Robert Holleyman in Intellectual Property November 20, 2012

Nov 20

Against the backdrop of an ongoing debate in industry and policy circles about the impact of software patents on innovation and the economy, US Patent and Trademark Director Dave Kappos this morning argued that the patent system works well. His remarks came in a keynote address at the Center for American Progress, which is worth reading or watching. (more…)

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Tags Kappos, Patent, Software

Three Ways the Administration and 113th Congress Can Accelerate the Digital Economy to Achieve Election Goals

posted by Robert Holleyman in Cloud Computing, Intellectual Property, Opening Markets November 7, 2012

Nov 07

The 2012 US election was about many things, but first and foremost it was about growing the economy and creating jobs. With the campaign now over, the Obama Administration and incoming 113th Congress can accomplish both of those goals in the innovation-driven IT sector by focusing on three big priorities: safeguarding intellectual property rights and protections, opening global markets to digital trade, and fostering the growth of cloud computing.

In the last four years, the Administration has made commendable progress in elevating intellectual property issues through a coordinated domestic effort and concerted dialogue with key trading partners. (more…)

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Tags 113 congress, Election2012, Obama, Technology

An IPR Strategy to Keep India’s Innovative Economy Moving Forward

posted by Robert Holleyman in Intellectual Property, Opening Markets November 2, 2012

Nov 02

India is well on its way to developing a world-class IT sector. For example, on the strength of its dynamic human capital and extensive investments in research and development, it leapt 10 ranking positions in the 2011 edition of the 66-nation IT Industry Competitiveness Index, created for BSA by the Economist Intelligence Unit. But India has made these strides without having a strategic vision for developing and protecting intellectual property. That is, until recently.

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