[Kip Currier: The following sections of this joint strategic plan caught my attention and should be of particular interest to researchers and universities:
p. 140: "BROADER RECOGNITION OF THE ESSENTIAL
ROLE UNIVERSITIES PLAY IN INNOVATION
In addition to their essential role as centers of
knowledge, learning, and scholarship, universities
around the world are engines for innovation. Universities
are often the first step in the innovation lifecycle, but too
often the big idea does not make it to the marketplace.
The promise of innovation that is first conceived by
professors, researchers, and students in university
laboratories frequently goes unrealized."
The University of Pittsburgh Innovation Institute has several initiatives to help university-based innovators get their ideas and inventions off the ground:
p. 143: "CALLS FOR RESEARCH.
Public policy is at its best when well-grounded in sound
research and data. Given the profound technological
and legal changes that have taken place over the past
several years, it is critical that academics, researchers,
the private sector, and others continue to rigorously
study the IPR ecosystem to identify areas of concern,
emerging trends, and opportunities for enhanced
enforcement mechanisms."
From pages 143-147 the plan presents examples of research topics and questions, e.g.
"Research into Commercial-Scale Piracy is
Needed…
- To assess the economic scope and magnitude of digital piracy. Beyond any top-line numbers, what is the magnitude of the harm suffered by the copyright owner? What is the impact on employment in the creative sectors? Who are the entities that profit from, or may be unjustly enriched by, the unauthorized exploitation of copyrighted materials?
[And]
- To examine the range of attendant harms and risks to the public. What is the relationship between pirated content and incidents of malware, phishing, or other threats to the public?"]
[Press Release] "Today, the Office of the U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC) released the 2017-2019 U.S. Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement, which offers a blueprint for coordinating resources and priorities to sustain a robust IP enforcement environment.
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office partnered with the IPEC and agencies throughout the federal government in crafting a plan that both highlights the cultural and economic importance of intellectual property incentives, and also ensures certainty in the marketplace through enforcement mechanisms to encourage creative growth and minimize misappropriation of innovation. USPTO is proud to play a role in promoting clear, consistent, high quality and enforceable IP rights to enable market growth. The office also provides critical international leadership in protecting IP overseas and navigating international IP laws. From copyrights and trade secrets protection, to the examination and registration of patents and trademarks, the USPTO will continue to foster a balanced IP playing field for U.S. businesses to compete in foreign markets and export abroad.
The report recognizes how IP-intensive industries continue to be an integral part of a growing economy, and identifies critical and strategic actions to safeguard that innovation and combat illicit infringement activities.
To read the plan, please visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/IPEC/spotlight/eop_ip... "
