The Internet of Things (IOT) is another ongoing transformational technology that is changing and will continue to change our lives.  Gartner calculates that there were roughly 8.4 billion IOT connected devices in 2017 and there will be about 20.4 billion in 2020.   This SIIA White Paper describes the benefits for consumers, energy, agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare.    The United States, among other countries (including China) is taking advantage of the opportunities presented by IOT.  The important thing in this context is to maintain and, if possible, expand the American IOT adoption rate.  Why is this important?  First, it matters because the United States has a comparative advantage over China in this space.  Second, manufacturing, a sector prioritized by the Trump Administration, will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of IOT.  Third, consumers benefit economically from IOT, but the technology is also a matter of conve ...

On Friday, June 17th, SIIA hosted a panel that was co-sponsored by the Congressional High Tech Caucus and the Congressional Internet of Things Caucus on assessing the benefits, challenges, and policy implications of the Internet of Things. SIIA has been active on the topic of IoT in recent months both filing comments to NTIA and releasing a white paper on the subject.  David LeDuc, SIIA’s Senior Director for Public Policy gave opening remarks where he said SIIA defines the “Internet of Things” as ubiquitous connectivity where people are not only interacting with their devices, but devices are also interacting with each other. He also touched on the importance of regulatory humility cautioning against an overarching policy framework for IoT to accommodate IoT’s complex ecosystem. The panel consisted of representatives from GE Digital, Qualcomm Inc., and the Center for Data Innovation.  Each panelist touched on both public and private sector oppor ...

We are at a key inflection point in the history of information technology (IT), representing the evolution of IT from a specialized tool into a pervasive influence on nearly every aspect of everyday life.  As the Internet further develops away from a computer-to-computer communication network, it is becoming a ubiquitous network linking electronic devices and everyday objects.  This development, often referred to as the “Internet of Things” (IoT), describes ubiquitous interconnectivity, where people don’t just interact with a wide range of objects and devices, but devices and objects also interact directly with each other. Today, SIIA released a new report, Empowering the Internet of Things:  Benefits, Solutions and Recommendations for Policymakers, providing an in-depth look at the technological, social, and economic benefits and challenges facing the IoT.  It examines how data processing applied to the information flows from the IoT will make ...

On February 16, 2016, SIIA submitted comments to the Copyright Office in response to its study of the law surrounding “Software-Enabled Consumer Products” (a.k.a. “embedded software” or “the Internet of Things”).  Increased device connectivity has prompted questions regarding application of the copyright law to consumer goods.  .  SIIA believes that no changes to existing law are necessary to address embedded software.   First, it is important to note that there is no distinction between “embedded” (or whatever other name used for it) software and other kinds of software. To put it simply, there is merely software – some of which is licensed, and some of which is sold.  Importantly for SIIA members, current law enables the proliferation of licensed software models for the betterment of both consumers using the software and the companies that make it. Most SIIA members license their products, and tail ...

Late last week, SIIA hosted a lunch event “Re-Thinking Privacy in the Connected World” that focused on reevaluating popular understandings of the privacy cost/benefit analysis of data-driven innovation and the Internet of Things (IoT). So often discussion of these technologies and analytic methods demonize data collection as a risk to personal privacy and security. But our speakers gave us a more balanced understanding of the complex relationship between technology, data and privacy.  They underscored that while there may be fundamental right to privacy, privacy is not monolithic, but based on a diverse and evolving set of expectations.  And they rebutted the notions that enhancing privacy can be accomplished merely by limiting data collection, or that more data equals less privacy, which calls for more regulation. more

Policymakers and regulators should focus on solutions that help unleash the full potential of the Internet of Things (IoT). SIIA agrees with the FTC that privacy and security are critical to unleashing the full potential of the ‘The Internet of Things.’  But, given the convergence of myriad technologies, devices and platforms that comprise the Internet of Things, it simply isn’t practical to apply a comprehensive policy framework.

Revised Patent Litigation Abuse Bill a Big Step Forward Last week, Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, released as second discussion draft patent bill that addresses the problems caused by litigation abuses brought by Patent Assertion entities, also referred to as patent trolls. The discussion draft is a revision of an earlier discussion draft. It includes provisions on pleading disclosures in patent infringement complaints, the awarding of attorneys’ fees, joinder of interested parties to a suit, limitations on the timing and costs associated with discovery, disclosure of real-parties-in-interest, revisions to the covered business methods program at the USPTO and several other changes and studies. SIIA welcomed the release of the patent reform discussion draft, recognizing the revised draft as a crucial legislative step toward achieving strong and effective patent litigation reform this year. More in Reuters.

We are at a key inflection point in the history of information technology (IT).  The last decade has brought about significant advances in IT, representing an evolution for IT from a specialized tool into a pervasive influence on nearly every aspect of everyday life.