IPI PolicyBytes | Categorised ContentNews, 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 TechBytes 7.25: A Strategic Plan for IP EnforcementFri, 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.htmTechnologyTom 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 TechBytes 7.23: Speed TrackThu, 10 Jun 2010 14:27:44 -0500
Really?

Can most people rattle off the horsepower of their car or their lawnmower? Can most people even tell you what “horsepower” means? (Horsepower is a measurement of work over time. Move 33,000 pounds one foot in a minute and that is one horsepower). What about their furnace? Can they opine on how many BTUs it produces? (BTU stands for British thermal unit. Heat one pound of 60 degree water by one degree at a pressure equal to one atmosphere and you have one BTU).

Most people can tell you whether their vehicle can pull their trailer effectively or accelerate fast enough when needed.]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.23-speed-track.htmTechnologyBartlett Clelandhttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.23-speed-track.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.23-speed-track.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/techbytes-7.23-speed-track.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.23-speed-track.htm?opendocument&comments TechBytes 7.22: Why Should I Care about Piracy and Counterfeits?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.htmTechnologyTom 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 Techbytes 7.21: Prove It!Thu, 27 May 2010 15:44:42 -0500
Obviously we are supporters of the First Amendment and are cheered when the public speaks up, telling government what they think. It’s all part of our right to petition the government, including regulatory agencies. However, we also think that government agencies need to especially consider data and substantive facts and information, rather than just policy pressure.

We’re concerned that these days the FCC seems to be in the thrall of one or two left-leaning groups and is following ideology rather than working from easily observable business and market reality.]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.21-prove-it.htmTechnologyBartlett Clelandhttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.21-prove-it.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.21-prove-it.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/techbytes-7.21-prove-it.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.21-prove-it.htm?opendocument&comments Free Press doesn’t think the peoples’ elected representatives should determine the nation’s policyWed, 26 May 2010 18:00:34 -0400I blogged the other day about bipartisan Congressional opposition to the FCC's attempt to expand their regulation of the Internet in the form of letters from 74 House Democrats and 37 Senate Republicans.

Well, today, the radical leftwing group Free Press that is agitating for more government regulation of the Internet put up a temper tantrum on their website. It musthave really knocked them for a loop to find out that not every Democrat on the Hill is smoking what Free Press is dealing.]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/free-press-doesnt-think-the-peoples-elected-representatives-should-determine-the-nations-policy.htmTechnologyTom Giovanettihttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/free-press-doesnt-think-the-peoples-elected-representatives-should-determine-the-nations-policy.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/free-press-doesnt-think-the-peoples-elected-representatives-should-determine-the-nations-policy.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/free-press-doesnt-think-the-peoples-elected-representatives-should-determine-the-nations-policy.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/free-press-doesnt-think-the-peoples-elected-representatives-should-determine-the-nations-policy.htm?opendocument&comments Strong bipartisan opposition to FCC’s attempt to regulate the InternetMon, 24 May 2010 14:58:55 -0500a letter released today in which 73 elected Democratic Members of Congress oppose the FCC's actions.

As the letter notes,

We are writing to reinforce the strong bipartisan consensus among policymakers, industry participants, and analysts that the success of the broadband marketplace stems from policies that encourage competition, private investment, and legal certainty. The regulatory framework first adopted in 1998 by the Clinton administration's FCC has resulted in broadband industry infrastructure investment of approximately $60 billion per year.[italics mine]

]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/strong-bipartisan-opposition-to-fccs-attempt-to-regulate-the-internet.htmTechnologyTom Giovanettihttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/strong-bipartisan-opposition-to-fccs-attempt-to-regulate-the-internet.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/strong-bipartisan-opposition-to-fccs-attempt-to-regulate-the-internet.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/strong-bipartisan-opposition-to-fccs-attempt-to-regulate-the-internet.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/strong-bipartisan-opposition-to-fccs-attempt-to-regulate-the-internet.htm?opendocument&comments TechBytes 7.20: When Markets Change, Rules Should, TooFri, 21 May 2010 10:25:34 -0500
Retransmission rules were adopted in 1992. They allowed US television stations to force video service providers, such as cable or satellite, to carry “local content” provided by the local television station (called “must carry”), or to negotiate with the video service provider for carriage of its broadcast programming.

But today, the rules need an update. Continuing the threat of “must carry” distorts price mechanisms and thus distorts negotiations—a short-sighted government construct rather than a true marketplace negotiation.
]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.20-when-markets-change-rules-should-too.htmTechnologyBartlett Clelandhttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.20-when-markets-change-rules-should-too.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.20-when-markets-change-rules-should-too.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/techbytes-7.20-when-markets-change-rules-should-too.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.20-when-markets-change-rules-should-too.htm?opendocument&comments TechBytes 7.19: All I Really Need To Know I Learned In KindergartenThu, 13 May 2010 15:59:33 -0500All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Watching the FCC’s reaction to losing the Comcast case, we’re beginning to wonder if maybe some higher-ups at the FCC weren’t paying attention in Kindergarten.

Don’t Throw a Tantrum
Perhaps you remember the days when being told “no” was really hard to handle. Sooner or later, for the most part, people learn that being told “no” is simply part of life and that “no” is far from the worst thing that can happen, and is actually often the catalyst to other opportunity.

Some, however, do not learn to handle “no” well.]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.19-all-i-really-need-to-know-i-learned-in-kindergarten.htmTechnologyBartlett Clelandhttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.19-all-i-really-need-to-know-i-learned-in-kindergarten.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.19-all-i-really-need-to-know-i-learned-in-kindergarten.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/techbytes-7.19-all-i-really-need-to-know-i-learned-in-kindergarten.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.19-all-i-really-need-to-know-i-learned-in-kindergarten.htm?opendocument&comments TechBytes 7.18: With Copps on the BeatThu, 6 May 2010 14:16:08 -0500
So how should one view the recent comments by one FCC commissioner who would be exercising these new and expanded powers, Commissioner Copps, when he addressed the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies?

Throughout his comments he bemoaned the fact that broadband is not yet available to every American (even though electricity and telephone took decades longer to reach the near ubiquity we have today).]]>http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.18-copps-on-the-beat.htmTechnologyBartlett Clelandhttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.18-copps-on-the-beat.htm?opendocument&commentshttp://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.18-copps-on-the-beat.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dxcomments/techbytes-7.18-copps-on-the-beat.htm http://www.policybytes.org/blog/policybytes.nsf/dx/techbytes-7.18-copps-on-the-beat.htm?opendocument&comments TechByte 7.12: The Real ThingThu, 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.htmTechnologyTom 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