CEO Forum 2009


CEO Forum 

As the Obama Administration and Congress work at reviving the economy and addressing the nation’s challenges, vigorous debates are occurring on many issues that could create new opportunities — or new risks and challenges — for the software industry.

CEO ForumIn this context, 10 BSA member company CEOs convened in Washington, DC, on June 2-3 for BSA's CEO Forum 2009. The CEOs engaged top policymakers in discussions about software’s role in the economic recovery and long-term growth and development. Attendees included:

  • Shantanu Narayen, Adobe
  • Greg Bentley, Bentley Systems
  • Jeff Ray, Dassault Systèmes Solidworks Corporation
  • Steve Ballmer, Microsoft
  • Ray Schiavone, Quark
  • Tom Adams, Rosetta Stone
  • Tony Affuso, Siemens PLM Software
  • John Chen, Sybase
  • John Thompson, Symantec
  • Jack Little, The MathWorks


CEO Forum On behalf of the CEOs, BSA secured meetings with top policymakers including:

  • Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano;
  • US Trade Representative Ron Kirk;
  • White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Dr. John Holdren;
  • Federal CIO Vivek Kundra;
  • Jason Furman, Deputy Director of the National Economic Council and a White House leader on tax policy; and Michael Strautmanis, Chief of Staff for White House Intergovernmental Relations and Public Engagement;
  • Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), Chairman, Senate Finance Committee;
  • Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC), House Majority Whip;
  • Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Chairman, House Homeland Security Committee;
  • Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), Chairman, House Judiciary Committee and a recipient of BSA’s 2008 Cyber Champion Award;
  • Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), Chairman, House Energy and Commerce Committee;
  • Rep. Ed Towns (D-NY), Chairman, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee;
  • Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN), Chairman, House Science and Technology Committee; and
  • Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), member of the Senate Finance and Judiciary Committees and a recipient of BSA’s 2008 Cyber Champion Award.

During these meetings, the CEOs expressed the software industry’s positions on several top issues of concern, including:

  • Corporate tax reform: The Administration’s proposed international tax reforms could make US companies less competitive with foreign businesses that enjoy both lower corporate income tax rates and no taxes on their foreign subsidiary profits. Comprehensive tax reform is preferable to a piecemeal approach.
  • National cyber security policy: BSA supports the President’s initiative to coordinate a government-wide strategy for network security, and we are working to strengthen the public-private partnership that protects critical cyber infrastructure. We caution against imposing any US-specific requirements that might depart from internationally recognized industry standards and practices.
  • Trade: Overseas software sales generated a $36 billion trade surplus for the US in 2008. BSA calls for trade liberalization through the WTO, passage of existing and new free trade agreements (FTAs), and negotiation of a strong Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). We urge the US Government to engage with China and other top markets at a high level to ensure that they fulfill existing commitments to reduce software piracy and provide non-discriminatory access to their markets.
  • Tech neutrality in government policy and procurement: Our industry supports the Administration’s agenda for IT investment in areas such as health care and e-government. To derive the fullest benefits from IT and innovation, the government should keep procurement rules technology neutral and preference free, and ensure that any IT standards backed by government are those established by voluntary, consensus-based, inclusive processes that respect IP rights and promote interoperability.

BSA Solutions Campaign
The CEO Forum also marked the US public rollout of BSA’s new “Solutions” campaign, which highlights how software and information technology contribute solutions to America’s most critical national challenges. At www.BSA.org/Solutions, visitors can download a copy of BSA Solutions Case Studies, featuring member company solutions; Solutions magazine, which tells the story of what it takes to generate innovative software solutions; and BSA’s 2009 US Technology Policy Agenda.

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