News, Notes, and Opinions From the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI)http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/en-usFri, 12 Mar 2010 10:51:07 -0500 Thu, 8 Jul 2010 10:18:36 -0500
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act finally established a much-needed regulatory pathway for “biosimilars.” Those are the generic versions of “biologics,” complex drugs made from living (or products of living) organisms, such as vaccines, insulin, human growth hormones and many others.

Innovator companies will get:

• 12 years of data exclusivity for their products, providing reasonable intellectual property protection;

• An arbitration mechanism to settle patent disputes; and

• A transition pathway to approve biosimilars, which have been regulated like traditional drugs despite their greater complexity.

That’s all good as far as it goes, but the legislation doesn’t address a number of issues.]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.26-a-pathway-to-safety.htmIntellectual PropertyMerrill Matthew Jr.http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.26-a-pathway-to-safety.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.26-a-pathway-to-safety.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/techbytes-7.26-a-pathway-to-safety.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.26-a-pathway-to-safety.htm?opendocument&comments Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:08:23 -05002010 Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement to the President and to Congress (PDF, 65 pages).

Intellectual property (IP) has become a controversial topic in the past few years, but thankfully there was very little controversy in the Joint Strategic Plan. It seems that one of the few truly non-partisan policy issues today is the recognition of the importance of intellectual property protection to our nation’s economy.
]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.25-a-strategic-plan-for-ip-enforcement.htmIntellectual PropertyTom Giovanettihttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.25-a-strategic-plan-for-ip-enforcement.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.25-a-strategic-plan-for-ip-enforcement.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/techbytes-7.25-a-strategic-plan-for-ip-enforcement.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.25-a-strategic-plan-for-ip-enforcement.htm?opendocument&comments Thu, 3 Jun 2010 09:35:16 -0500
On piracy, there’s a new round of lawsuits against people who have been illegally sharing copyright-protected materials, although this time it’s movies, including the Oscar-winning film “The Hurt Locker.”

And on counterfeits, a cache of over seven million counterfeit pills, including counterfeit Viagra and other common prescription drugs, was just seized in Dubai, a central distribution port for destinations all over the world.

Two weeks ago, a Canadian man was arrested for selling counterfeit cancer medication through his Canadian Internet pharmacy website.

Oh, and the same guy was selling pirated business software. So he’s adept at both piracy AND counterfeiting.
]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.22-why-should-i-care-about-piracy-and-counterfeits.htmIntellectual PropertyTom Giovanettihttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.22-why-should-i-care-about-piracy-and-counterfeits.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.22-why-should-i-care-about-piracy-and-counterfeits.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/techbytes-7.22-why-should-i-care-about-piracy-and-counterfeits.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.22-why-should-i-care-about-piracy-and-counterfeits.htm?opendocument&comments Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:35:29 -0500
What kind of legislation passes with such a broad, bipartisan majority? Legislation that is designed to solve widely recognized problems in a way that makes sense to the American people. The PRO-IP Act was such a bill, designed to enhance intellectual property enforcement in order to protect the interests of those who work in the innovative and creative sectors of the U.S. economy, and the health and safety of all Americans.
]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbyte-7.12-the-real-thing.htmIntellectual PropertyTom Giovanettihttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbyte-7.12-the-real-thing.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbyte-7.12-the-real-thing.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/techbyte-7.12-the-real-thing.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbyte-7.12-the-real-thing.htm?opendocument&comments Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:56:24 -0500
That's just one of the many frightening statistics that emerged from a conference last week in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, sponsored by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for the benefit of government officials in the East African Region. IPI was pleased to be able to co-sponsor and participate in the conference.

Designed to help justice and customs officials intercept counterfeits and prosecute the perpetrators, the conference was a terrific example of cooperation between “north and south” in improving the health and welfare of East African populations.
]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.11-closing-in-on-the-counterfeiters.htmIntellectual PropertyTom Giovanettihttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.11-closing-in-on-the-counterfeiters.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.11-closing-in-on-the-counterfeiters.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/techbytes-7.11-closing-in-on-the-counterfeiters.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.11-closing-in-on-the-counterfeiters.htm?opendocument&comments Thu, 7 Jan 2010 13:01:09 -0500
Well, politically liberal activist groups have been chasing their own tails for years, criticizing content and media companies for, well, just about everything they do, and of course all in the name of “protecting consumers.”

But in their latest attack, these activists have caught their own tails, and in the course of doing so have demonstrated that their real agenda is anything but innovation and consumer benefit.

The activists’ latest complaint is a new video service called TV Everywhere.]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.01-tv-everywhere-content-or-discontent.htmIntellectual PropertyBartlett Clelandhttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.01-tv-everywhere-content-or-discontent.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.01-tv-everywhere-content-or-discontent.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/techbytes-7.01-tv-everywhere-content-or-discontent.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.01-tv-everywhere-content-or-discontent.htm?opendocument&comments Thu, 26 Nov 2009 15:54:35 -0500
Oracle is seeking to merge with Sun in order to be more competitive now and in the future. The U.S. Department of Justice approved, stating that, "Several factors led the Division to conclude that the proposed transaction is unlikely to be anticompetitive."

But earlier this month the EU issued a "Statement of Objections" to the proposed merger. With this statement the EU has made clear that it has decided to continue its push to be the global regulator, apparently thinking that regulation of the global software industry (which is vastly domiciled in the U.S.) is the way to demonstrate European-style innovation.
]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-6.46-on-the-menu-for-thanksgiving.htmIntellectual PropertyBartlett Clelandhttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-6.46-on-the-menu-for-thanksgiving.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-6.46-on-the-menu-for-thanksgiving.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/techbytes-6.46-on-the-menu-for-thanksgiving.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-6.46-on-the-menu-for-thanksgiving.htm?opendocument&comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:06:10 +0200
The member of the WIPO Secretariat, in response, explained to India that "if you make it illegal for rightsholders to refuse to license, you destroy the IP system."

Which is undoubtedly the India delegate's point.]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/okay-cdip4-at-wipo-is-getting-interesting.htmIntellectual PropertyTom Giovanettihttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/okay-cdip4-at-wipo-is-getting-interesting.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/okay-cdip4-at-wipo-is-getting-interesting.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/okay-cdip4-at-wipo-is-getting-interesting.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/okay-cdip4-at-wipo-is-getting-interesting.htm?opendocument&comments Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:45:11 +0200
Today's good news is that no binding treaty is going to come out of next month's Copenhagen conference on climate change.

It's good news for any number of reasons one of which is that the global IP skeptic community will not be able to use climate issues to undermine international patent rights on "green" technologies, at least not now, and at least not through this mechanism.

]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/good-news-no-climate-change-treaty-this-year.htmIntellectual PropertyTom Giovanettihttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/good-news-no-climate-change-treaty-this-year.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/good-news-no-climate-change-treaty-this-year.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/good-news-no-climate-change-treaty-this-year.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/good-news-no-climate-change-treaty-this-year.htm?opendocument&comments Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:46:04 -0500
And while considering the application of existing technology to current problems is ahead of typical political thinking, it is still fairly two dimensional. The true promise of an information technology-based health system or of a smart grid for greener energy is the ongoing innovation, the promise of better and better solutions.

The administration and Capitol Hill need to broaden their thinking beyond particular solutions and begin considering ways to foster and empower a solution economy.

What makes up the solution economy?—a society that allows the freedom to innovate and experiment with ideas.

That requires an environment that encourages, or certainly allows, risk by providing reward.]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-6.41-fostering-a-solution-economy.htmIntellectual PropertyBartlett Clelandhttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-6.41-fostering-a-solution-economy.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-6.41-fostering-a-solution-economy.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/techbytes-6.41-fostering-a-solution-economy.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-6.41-fostering-a-solution-economy.htm?opendocument&comments