Intellectual property (IP) protections encourage the research and development (R&D) that drives innovation. Software accounts for 19.6 percent of all domestic business R&D in the United States. Proper IP protection frameworks are critical to maintaining this investment. BSA supports:

• patent protection for all inventions on a technology-neutral basis,
• copyright laws that protect the rights of authors, intermediaries, and users of works in the digital age,
• protections for trade secrets, and
• meaningful patent litigation reform that reduces opportunistic litigation and allows those who invent and innovate to thrive.

Additional Resources:

• US: Testimony before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet on “Assessing the Effectiveness of the Transitional Program for Covered Business Method Patents”
• US: Patent and Trademark Office – Comments on Draft 2018-2022 Strategic Plan