[Ip-health] FTC to investigate intellectual property & innovation (Public Hearing)

[Manon Ress]

FTC to investigate intellectual property
http://www.techcentral.ie/article.aspx?id=12788

Public hearing to be held this month

14 Nov 2008 :

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is to investigate the growing
market in intellectual property to determine whether new regulation is
needed.

Separate hearings will cover three topics: developing IP valuation and
licensing business models; changes in remedies law; and legal
doctrines that affect the value and licensing of patents.

"The patent system has experienced significant change since the FTC
released its first Intellectual Property Report in October 2003, and
more changes are under consideration," said the organisation.

"The courts and patentees are exploring the full implications of
Supreme Court and Federal Circuit decisions on injunctive relief,
patentability and licensing issues."

The cumulative impact of these changes and proposed changes are
"poorly understood", according to the FTC.

"They contain the potential to significantly influence a patent's
economic value and the operation of the intellectual property
marketplace," it said.

"The FTC hearings will consider the effect of these changes on
innovation, competition and consumer welfare."

While the panels are open to the public, industry players including
Cisco, Yahoo and the Computer & Communications Industry Association
are expected to testify, along with professors, lawyers and other
experts.


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Manon Ress
manon.ress@keionline.org
Knowledge Ecology International
1621 Connecticut Ave, NW, Washington, DC 20009 USA
Tel.:  +1.202.332.2670, Fax: +1.202.332.2673