This Week in Washington IP: Incentivizing Climate-Related Innovation, Automation’s Impact on Innovation and Labor, and the Geopolitical Battle over Global Technological Standards

This week in Washington IP news, the IP5 are gathering in Hawaii to discuss how the world’s five largest IP offices are incentivizing innovations that address climate change. Elsewhere, the Hudson Institute is hosting a panel discussion that will look at how geopolitical struggles over technological standards could play out.

Monday, June 12

Brookings Institution

People over robots: How policy distorts decisions around automation

At 10:00 AM on Monday, Saul Room, 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW and online livestream

On Monday, Vox co-founder Matt Yglesias is moderating a group discussion that will debate the idea that progress depends on the choices we make about technology, and how our policies influence these choices. Artificial intelligence and automation have been dominating headlines in recent months and many people are wondering what kind of impact these developments will have on people, labor, and society. This Brookings panel discussion will consider pressing questions on this front.

Hudson Institute

Global Technological Standards and Geopolitics

At noon on Monday, online livestream

On Monday, the Hudson Institute is hosting a panel discussion on the geopolitical race for leadership in setting global technological standards. This burgeoning race comes from the permanent role of technological innovation in the daily lives of both consumers and markets. A panel of experts will debate what is required to stimulate robust, continued participation in global standardization efforts.

Tuesday, June 13

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Sustainable innovation dialogue: Exploring the relationship between IP and climate change innovation

At 8:30 AM Hawaii time (2:30 ET) on Tuesday, Waikiki Beach Marriott and online livestream

On Tuesday, representatives from the world’s five largest IP offices and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) will meet in Hawaii to attend a half-day program to discuss incentivizing climate-related innovations. IP Stakeholders and government officials will meet to offer various global perspectives on innovations that seek to tackle climate change. The highest-ranking official from the European, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and American patent offices will all be in attendance.

Wednesday, June 14

Senate Committee on Appropriations

Enhancing American Competitiveness Through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation

At 10 AM on Wednesday, Dirksen Senate Office Building 138 and online livestream

On Wednesday, this Senate committee will hold a hearing on how the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) can be better utilized to improve U.S. competitiveness. The DFC is a relatively new organization originating in 2018, and it attempts to invest in foreign businesses that develop infrastructure and technology. Some argue that the DFC is a direct response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative. 

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

From Problem to Market: How Three Women Are Addressing Global Challenges

At 2:00 PM ET on Wednesday, Waikiki Beach Marriott and online livestream

On Wednesday, following the previous day’s IP5 meeting the USPTO is hosting a panel discussion in its #WEWednesday series in collaboration with the University of Hawai’i’s Office of Innovation & Commercialization. Attendees will hear from a panel of entrepreneurs and IP experts that have brought their innovations to market through licensing partnerships and university tech transfer. Commissioner Insil Lee from the Korean Intellectual Property Office will join USPTO Director Kathi Vidal to talk about the challenges women entrepreneurs face.

Thursday, June 15

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Learn about the Request for Comments Regarding Motion to Amend Practice before the PTAB

At noon on Thursday, online meeting

On Thursday, the USPTO is holding a panel discussion on the Patent Trial and Appeal Board’s (PTAB) Motion to Amend pilot program. Additionally, panel members will also discuss the Office’s request for public comments on the pilot program and the allocation of burdens of persuasion on motions to amend in America Invents Act (AIA) trial proceedings. Stakeholders can submit comments until the July 24 deadline. The panel includes Administrative Patent Judges and several patent attorneys.