Policy Areas: Intellectual Property

Beginning with the advent of the printing press in the 15th Century, which could copy books and manuscripts, intellectual property rights have been a contentious issue. Many argue that the bundle of rights acts as a public benefit because they allow the innovator to disseminate their work without fear of it being illegally stolen or copied. This is extremely important to the entrepreneur who often begins with only an idea. Were this idea to be “stolen” by a competitor or a large company, the entrepreneur would have no recourse. However, today’s intellectual property laws allow the creator of a protected idea to sue offenders for infringement in cases such as these. One issue for debate arises when an idea derives from common knowledge or is a practice such as a business method. The law must decide where intellectual property rights end and the realm of open knowledge begins. Recently, the law has greatly favored stronger and more expansive intellectual property rights. The future of entrepreneurship is closely tied to the protection of rights to intellectual property, allowing start-ups to market an idea without fear of infringement by others.

Issues include:

• Patents/Patent Reform

• International Trade

• R&D

• Tax Credits

• "Fair Use"

• Litigation

CRS Issue Brief for Congress

• Patent Reform: Innovation Issues
  by Wendy Schacht and John R. Thomas, Congressional Research Service

• China-U.S. Trade Issues
  by Wayne M. Morrison, Congressional Research Service

• The Dominican Republican-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA)
  by J.F. Hornbeck, Congressional Research Service

 :: View all issue briefs ::

Recent Capitol Hill Activity/News

• Patent Reform Hearing

Articles & Reports

• Protecting Intellectual Property

• The Political Economy of Intellectual Property Law

:: View all articles ::

Useful Resources

• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

• Legal Database - Intellectual Property Law

• Intellectual Property Online: Patent, Trademark, Copyright Archive

:: View all resources ::

POLICY AREAS

E-Commerce

Entrepreneurship Education

Financing

Intellectual Property

Minorities

Regulatory Burdens

Stock Options

Tax System

Technology Transfer

Women

Worker Benefits

Workforce Training