This Week in Washington IP: Generic Drug Pricing, Supreme Court Ethics, and Maximizing Regional Economic Growth and Innovation

This week in Washington IP news, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary holds a hearing on Supreme Court Ethics Reform after two Justices have been tied up in ethics scandals. Elsewhere, the United States Patent and Trademark Office celebrates the 16th annual Design Day, and CSIS discusses the regional economic impact the CHIPS and Science Act can have.

Tuesday, May 2

Senate Committee on the Judiciary

Supreme Court Ethics Reform

At 10:00 AM on Tuesday, Hart Senate Office Building Room 216 and online livestream

On Tuesday, committee members will discuss potential ethics reform to the Supreme Court in the wake of scandal. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been in the news for failing to disclose luxury trips paid by billionaire Harlan Crow in addition to a real estate deal with the conservative businessman. After the revelations about Thomas surfaced, Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch also came under fire for selling a piece of land to the CEO of a law firm that regularly testifies before the Supreme Court. Chief Justice John Roberts declined an invitation to testify before this committee citing separation of powers concerns.

Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions

Executive Meeting to Consider S. 1067, S. 1114, S. 1214, and S. 1339

At 10:00 AM on Tuesday, 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building and online livestream

On Tuesday, this committee will discuss four pieces of legislation: S. 1067, Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act of 2023, S. 1114, Expanding Access to Low-Cost Generics Act of 2023, S. 1214, RARE Act, S. 1339, Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act. The bipartisan Ensuring Timely Access to Generics Act of 2023 aims to cut costs for generic drugs through better oversight of the FDA’s citizen petition process. Additionally, the Expanding Access to Low-Cost Generics Act of 2023 attempts to address the anti-competitive prescription drug practice called “parking.”

U.S. Copyright Office

Spring 2023 AI Listening Sessions – Visual Arts

At 1:00 PM on Tuesday, online webinar

On Tuesday, the U.S. Copyright Office (USCO) is hosting the second session of its AI listening session series. This session will cover the visual arts, and attendees will hear from a variety of artists, members of creative industries, AI developers, researchers, and interest groups. The goal of the listening sessions is to discuss the “hopes, concerns, and questions about generative AI and copyright law.”

Wednesday, May 3

Center for Strategic and International Studies

Enhancing the Regional Impact of the CHIPS and Science Act

At 9:00 AM on Wednesday, CSIS Headquarters and online livestream

On Wednesday, CSIS and the Indiana University Public Policy Institute are hosting this day-long event to discuss how the CHIPS and Science Act can spur regional economic growth and innovation. Attendees will hear from policymakers, senior industry leaders, agency leaders, and policy experts on how the United States can maximize the economic impact of this legislation. The CHIPS and Science Act earmarked $280 billion in new funding to improve domestic research and semiconductor manufacturing.

Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights

Competition in the Digital Advertising Ecosystem

At 2:30 PM on Wednesday, Dirksen Senate Office Building Room 226 and online livestream

On Wednesday, this subcommittee will hold a hearing to discuss competition between digital advertisers. In late March, two Republican senators introduced the AMERICA Act with the stated goal of stopping large tech companies from manipulating online ad auctions and imposing monopoly restrictions on big firms. “Big Tech does not have the right to stack the deck in its favor at the expense of competition. I’m supporting the AMERICA Act to hold Big Tech accountable for anti-competitive behavior and limit its power to manipulate ads that get pushed to unsuspecting consumers,” said Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.)

Thursday, May 4

United States Patent and Trademark Office

16th annual Design Day

At 10:00 AM on Thursday, USPTO Headquarters and online livestream

On Thursday, the USPTO is holding a day of discussions about design patents on the 16th annual Design Day. At the event, you can get insight from USPTO design examiners and managers, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), design patent practitioners, and more. The event will be hosted in collaboration with Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) and American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA).

Alec Pronk Alec is a freelance journalist and editor who has covered a broad range of topics ranging from international law to US foreign policy. He holds a master’s degree in political [...see more]

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Join the Discussion

2 comments so far.

Pro Say
May 1, 2023 03:34 pm
Yup Mark; you, too were robbed by Thomas and his fellow unconstitutional eligibility henchmen.

I followed your case, and reviewed your invention including your claims.

Your’s was not a close call. Not by a long shot.

But don’t leave out SCOTUS’ eligibility CAFC lapdogs.

Had they merely followed SCOTUS very limited limits on eligibility instead of going so far off the rails that the rails are no longer even visible, you would have never needed to hail-Mary the Supreme Court.

“Competition in the Digital Advertising Ecosystem”

Dear Committee (and Congress in general):

A fair number of independent and small company inventors have since Alice / Mayo attempted to bring breakthrough competition to Big Tech advertising.

But guess what: If and until you put SCOTUS and the CAFC back in their Constitutional, non-activist, interpret-but-don’t-make-law lane, these inventors have been either unable to obtain the patent protection they need — or if they’ve been fortunate enough to obtain patents (thank you Director Iancu) but can’t use them to stop Big Tech from stealing their inventions — Big Tech’s stranglehold on advertising will remain.

Forever.
Mark Tornetta
May 1, 2023 01:47 pm
Ethics reform… Judge Thomas.

The biggest crook of all.

SCOTUS refused our petition on locating and identifying real estate which Crowe was a part of.

He authored the unconstitutional exceptions to patent eligibility.

He should be impeached immediately.

I will provide evidence.