Data Analytics Event This Thursday
Join SIIA for lunch and exciting technology presentations on how big data is being employed to empower and protect citizens. The lunch workshop, “Big Data at Work for Citizens: Applying Data Analytics for Empowerment and Fraud Prevention,” will take place Thursday, July 17 from 12-1:30pm in Room G11 of the Dirksen Senate office building.RSVP HERE
Executive Director Marjory Blumenthal of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) will open the event with discussion of the Administration and PCAST reports on Big Data and Privacy released in May. In addition, the SIIA workshop will provide for Q&A and discussion about key policy considerations to maximize data-driven innovation. For more information, or to register, click here!
Patent Troll Demand Letter Bill Passes House Subcommittee
Last Thursday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade passed the Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters Act (TROL Act) by a vote of 13-6. The bill attempts to crack down on demand letters sent by patent trolls by giving the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) the authority to seek penalties when patent licensing demand letters make false or misleading statements. The bill has been widely criticized and even its sponsor, Rep. Lee Terry of Nebraska, has conceded that the bill needs to be further amended to address these concerns. The real question seems to be whether amendments can fix the bill or whether it is fatally flawed. Contentious provisions in the bill include provisions that would: (i) create an affirmative defense that applies if the sender can show that the statements made in the letter were made in good faith or that the sender usually sends letters that are not misleading; (ii) preempt state laws dealing with demand letters; (iii) compromise the FTC’s ability to get an injunction under Section 5 of the FTC Act, which allows it to police deceptive business practices.
Potential PTO Director Nominee Withdrawn
Back in late June rumors swirled that the Obama Administration had planned to name Phil Johnson, a pharmaceutical executive for Johnson & Johnson, as head of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Given Johnson’s very public stance against patent troll litigation reform legislation, the potential appointment was met with significant criticism. In response, last week, the Administration apparently backtracked on the appointment and has withdrawn Johnson’s name from consideration. It is unclear who or when the Administration will name someone to head the PTO in lieu of Johnson.
European Parliament’s International Trade Committee (INTA) Chairman Pushes for Less Ambitious TTIP
Inside U.S. Trade reports that the new Chair, Bernd Lange (member of the Socialists & Democrats group) would like to conclude TTIP by the end of 2015, not the end of 2014 which was the original plan. He would like a more “classic” agreement focused on tariffs, some non-tariff barriers, and government procurement. Regulatory cooperation and Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) would be left out under this scenario. Lange’s comments illustrate how unpopular trade agreements are on the other side of the Atlantic, as well as in the United States. Regulatory cooperation is arguably the most important component of the TTIP given the ambition, often stated in both the United States and the European Union, for the TTIP to serve as a model for the rest of the world. The role of parliament is significant on trade. In 2012 the parliament rejected the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which the European Commission (the European Union’s executive branch) had invested significant political capital to conclude. As a result, the Commission has to take parliament’s views seriously.
David LeDuc is Senior Director, Public Policy at SIIA. He focuses on e-commerce, privacy, cyber security, cloud computing, open standards, e-government and information policy. Follow the SIIA public policy team on Twitter at @SIIAPolicy.