Intellectual
Property Protection Training for Small Businesses |
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There is a new bill that is making its way through the
congress.
H.R. 2655 was introduced by Congressman Dwight Evans on
May 25, 2017.
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The bill addresses challenges that small businesses have in
obtaining, maintaining, and enforcing foreign and domestic
patents.
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Intellectual property rights are essential in encouraging
entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs and small business owners
have generated more than 63 percent of new jobs over the
last two decades, and small businesses represent about 96
percent of employer firms in high-patenting manufacturing
industries.
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Small businesses in the United States are at a particular
disadvantage, however, because they may lack the knowledge,
expertise, or resources necessary to prevent the theft of
their ideas and products.
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According to the USPTO only 15 percent of small businesses
that conduct business overseas know that they need to file
for IP protection abroad.
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Many small businesses also may not have personnel and
operations overseas, so they lack the ‘‘eyes and ears’’
needed to be vigilant globally, and the theft of their IP
can often go undetected.
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In addition, small businesses generally do not have the
level of access or the re- sources, such as specialized
legal counsel, that may be available to larger companies.
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In 2012, the SBA and
USPTO released a joint report on international patent
protection for small businesses.3 The report found that many
small businesses may benefit from extending patent rights
outside the United States, but few were aware of the
necessity or the mechanisms available to accurately and
effectively pursue an international patent.
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This bill making its way through Congress would authorized
both the SBA and USPTO to provide small businesses
training on Intelllectual Property to protect themselves
from both domestic and international harm.
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The bill calls for the training to be developed by the
Administrator of the SBA and the Director of the USPTO may
be delivered by the SBA, USPTO or SBDC in person or
electronically to small businesses relating to domestic and
international intellectual property protections and how to
incorporate such protections into business plans and growth
strategies.
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On July 10, 2018 the bill passed in the House.
On July 11, 2018 it was placed on the calendar in the
Senate.
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You can track the progress of the bill here:
H.R. 2655.
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Sources:
H.R. 2655: Small Business Innovation Protection Act
of 2017
By Bill
Williams |