This Week in Washington IP: Accepting China’s Tech Dominance, How AI is Transforming the World and Countering Military Drone Threats

This week in Washington intellectual property (IP) events, both houses of Congress are quiet in the lead-up to Joe Biden’s inauguration as President later this month. Among Washington, DC-area policy institutes, the Information Technology & Innovation Foundation explores whether the United States should continue to resist China’s growing technological dominance, while the Brookings Institution hosts events discussing a Tech New Deal to aid underprivileged communities and ways that artificial intelligence continues to drastically change our world. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is also hosting a few events this week designed to teach the basics of IP, especially regarding patents and trademarks, to interested entrepreneurs.

Tuesday, January 5

Center for Strategic & International Studies 

A Conversation With FCC Chairman Ajit Pai

At 3:00 PM on Tuesday, online video webinar.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been the federal agency tasked with much of the work of developing the United States’ response to advances in 5G mobile network technologies, holding auctions to free up spectrum for 5G tech implementers while also addressing national security concerns posed by bad actors who want to manipulate these networks for their own purposes. This event features a keynote address from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai on how the U.S. can continue to pursue advanced development in 5G technologies to outpace its competitors while addressing the many concerns posed by this new technology. Following the keynote address, Pai will be joined for a conversation on these topics by John J. Hamre, CSIS President and CEO, and Langone Chair in American Leadership.

Wednesday, January 6

Information Technology & Innovation Foundation

Should the US Accept China’s Economic and Technology Rise?

At 11:00 AM on Wednesday, online video webinar.

Much of the Trump Administration’s focus on China has involved efforts to address that nation’s unfair practices surrounding intellectual property. However, with Joe Biden about to enter the White House as President-elect later this month, some commentators have indicated that it may be better for the United States to accept China’s growing dominance in the globe’s technology economy. This event will feature a discussion with Robert D. Atkinson, President, ITIF; Daniel Gros, Director, Centre for European Policy Studies; and moderated by Craig Allen, President, US-China Business Council.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Meet the Trademark Experts

At 1:30 PM on Wednesday, online video webinar.

This event is designed to introduce entrepreneurs looking to protect their bands to relevant resources that are available through the USPTO, including the Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS), the Identification of Goods and Services Manual and other tools for maintaining federal trademarks once registered. Registrants will also be able to participate in a Q&A session with agency trademark experts.

Brookings Institution

Why Black America Needs a Tech New Deal

At 2:00 PM on Wednesday, online video webinar.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused many to reassess the importance of broadband Internet infrastructure for low-income and underprivileged communities, leading them to conceive the idea of a Tech New Deal which can improve prosperity for communities that have been heavily impacted by the pandemic. Drawing on examples like the Universal Service Fund, which many believe needs reforms, this event will focus on advocating for policies that increase broadband infrastructure and workforce development in communities where those programs are desperately needed. This event will feature a discussion including Joshua Edmonds, Director of Digital Inclusion, City of Detroit, Mich.; Jamal Simmons, CBS News Contributor, Former Co-Chair, Internet Innovation Alliance; Charlyn Stanberry, Chief of Staff, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY); Fallon Wilson, Co-Founder, #BlackTechFutures Research Institute; and moderated by Nicol Turner Lee, Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, and Director, Center for Technology Innovation.

Thursday, January 7

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Innovators and Entrepreneurs: Learn About IP Basics and Helpful Resources

At 12:30 PM on Thursday, online video webinar.

This event is designed for entrepreneurs who want to gain a basic understanding of different kinds of intellectual property protections including patents, trademarks, trade secrets and copyright. Attendees will watch presentations offering overviews of each of these topics along with reasons why various forms of IP can help protect business interests.

Brookings Institution 

How Artificial Intelligence is Transforming the United States and the World

At 2:00 PM on Thursday, online video webinar.

The United States is still shaping much of its policy related to artificial intelligence (AI) and related technologies, and with a new Presidential administration about to take control, some pundits are trying to assess what direction policymakers will head when it comes to addressing national security, labor disruption and other areas that could be impacted by AI. This event will feature a discussion including Aaron Klein, Fellow, Economic Studies, and Policy Director, Center on Regulation and Markets; Nicol Turner Lee, Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, and Director, Center for Technology Innovation; Joshua P. Meltzer, Senior Fellow, Global Economy and Development; Chris Meserole, Director of Research and Policy, Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies Initiative, and Fellow, Foreign Policy, Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology; Mark Muro, Senior Fellow and Policy Director, Metropolitan Policy Program; and moderated by Darrell M. West, Vice President and Director, Governance Studies, and Senior Fellow, Center for Technology Innovation.

Friday, January 8

Center for Strategic & International Studies

Countering Unmanned Aerial Systems: The Path Forward

At 9:00 AM on Friday, online video webinar.

The U.S. military has been a world leader in the adoption and deployment of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technologies, or drones, but growing complexity in this sector means that U.S. military leaders need to protect against a new range of air and missile threats. This event, hosted by the CSIS Missile Defense Project, will focus on opportunities to counter UAV threats in a discussion with MG Sean Gainey, Director, C-UAS Office; Nicole M. Thomas, Division Chief for Strategy and Policy, Joint C-UAS Office; and Tom Karako, Senior Fellow, International Security Program and Director, Missile Defense Project.

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

The Path to a Patent, Part I: IP Basics

At 1:00 PM on Friday, online video webinar.

This event gives a basic overview of the early stages of obtaining patent rights including the inventive process, patent application filings and other stages of the patent prosecution process up to the USPTO’s decision to issue a patent. Presenters at this event will cover the basic requirements for patentability, situations where provisional applications are appropriate and the costs and benefits of hiring a patent attorney.