WASHINGTON – May 2, 2017 – BSA | The Software Alliance commends the House Judiciary Committee’s Innovation & Competitiveness Policy Agenda, released today. Many US laws and regulations were enacted before the data revolution and did not anticipate the pivotal role data now plays in the American economy. Software, which powers the data economy, contributes $1 trillion to the US GDP and supports almost 10 million US jobs.

“Our law needs to modernize to account for advances in cloud-based services and emerging technologies, and to ensure the United States continues to reap the economic benefits of software and remain a world leader in technology,” said Victoria Espinel, President and CEO of BSA | The Software Alliance. “The committee’s agenda is critical to creating data-powered job growth and innovation. BSA appreciates the agenda’s focus on privacy protections, cybersecurity, and the creation of an international framework for law enforcement access to data. We are also pleased to see the committee’s continued leadership in fighting patent litigation abuse and ensuring the intellectual property system functions as intended. We look forward to working with Chairman Bob Goodlatte and the House Judiciary Committee to advance the Innovation Agenda.”