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NEWS FEED
Lawmakers, entrepreneurs share Congressional Startup Day experiences
August 21st was the official celebration of Congressional Startup Day -- a unique opportunity for lawmakers to celebrate entrepreneurial excellence in their districts and states over the August congressional recess.
CASE Act does not offer viable solution to online infringement
The Senate Judiciary Committee is taking up a bill today that would change copyright enforcement in the U.S. and open up startups and their users to new risks. The bill, the CASE Act (S.1273), would create a process for copyright holders to address online copyright infringement by establishing a Copyright Claims Board within the U.S. Copyright Office to adjudicate copyright infringement and award substantial financial damages without the traditional safeguards of federal court.
NUTS & BOLTS of USER PRIVACY
Whether it’s the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, or the looming California Consumer Privacy Act, policymakers across the world are grappling with what steps they can take to better safeguard consumers’ online data while promoting competition and innovation.
Engine Submits Comments on Section 101 to Senate Judiciary Subcommittee
The Subcommittee on Intellectual Property of the Senate Judiciary Committee recently held a series of hearings on the topic of patent subject matter eligibility. That Subcommittee is considering potential amendments to 35 U.S.C. §101—the provision of the Patent Act that defines what subject matter is (and is not) eligible for patent protection. In our view changes to 35 U.S.C. §101 are not needed, and we submitted comments to the Subcommittee articulating our concerns.
Statement on the Ending Support for Internet Censorship Act
In an effort to address a non-existent problem, the new Ending Support for Internet Censorship Act from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) would dismantle the sensible regulatory regime that is responsible for the development of the Internet.
Startups push Senate to support net neutrality
This morning, on the one-year anniversary of the repeal of net neutrality, Engine released a letter signed by over 160 startups in support of H.R. 1644 / S. 682, the Save the Internet Act.
Looking Back on National Small Business Week 2019
Last week, communities all across the country celebrated the 56th annual National Small Business Week (NSBW). With 30.2 million startups and small businesses across the United States employing 47.5 percent of the country’s private workforce, entrepreneurial endeavors represent the economic backbone of our country. That’s why policymakers from across the aisle strongly support small business innovation and growth across their districts and states.
Engine Supports AI in Government Act
“The Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Government Act will improve the implementation and use of AI across the federal government by providing much needed entrepreneurial expertise about how the emerging tech can best be used for the public interest.”
Engine Files Amicus Brief in HomeAway vs. City of Santa Monica
Engine filed an amicus brief in HomeAway.com Inc. and Airbnb Inc. vs. City of Santa Monica calling for the full Ninth Circuit to rehear whether Santa Monica, California can force home-sharing companies to police third-party content.
Statement on Introduction of the CASE Act
“Although the CASE Act is designed to provide small copyright holders with a process for addressing online copyright infringement, we are concerned the legislation will instead create potential traps for small startups and further incentivize bad faith copyright infringement claims.”
Engine Joins Brief in Copyright Case
Engine has joined an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to review State of Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org Inc., which will determine the extent to which a state may exclude citizens from government works under copyright law.
Engine Supports Token Taxonomy Act
“The Token Taxonomy Act will help provide the regulatory clarity that the blockchain industry has needed for quite some time. This forward-thinking proposal succeeds in providing clear rules supporting an emerging technology without constraining future growth.”
Statement on House Passage of the Save the Internet Act
“We are pleased that House lawmakers voted to advance H.R. 1644, the Save the Internet Act, a bill that would fully restore the strong net neutrality protections that were enshrined in the FCC’s 2015 Open Internet Order. Net neutrality helps preserve the Internet as a level playing field for companies of all sizes, promoting competition and innovation.”
Startups speak out as net neutrality bill advances
This afternoon, Engine released a letter signed by over 120 startups in support of H.R. 1644, the Save the Internet Act. The legislation would restore the FCC’s 2015 Open Internet Order, which allowed startups to grow and succeed by keeping the Internet a level playing field.
Engine Supports the HALOS Act
Evan Engstrom, Engine's Executive Director, penned a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) expressing support for the HALOS Act.
Statement on European Parliament’s Vote on Copyright in the Digital Single Market
Engine Executive Director Evan Engstrom responds to the European Parliament’s vote to adopt the Directive on Copyright in the Digital Single Market.
Engine Supports Congressional Efforts to Save the Internet
Engine supports congressional Democrats’ efforts to adopt legislation that would reinstate the Federal Communications Commission’s 2015 Open Internet rules.
Engine and Tech:NYC Support Sen. Moran and Warner's Startup Act
Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Mark Warner (D-VA) reintroduced their Startup Act, bipartisan legislation intended to encourage job growth and the creation of new innovative businesses. In 2017, the senators last introduced this legislation, which would accelerate the commercialization of university research, review and improve the regulatory processes at the federal, state and local levels, and modernize an Economic Development Administration (EDA) program designed to promote innovation.
Statement on USPTO Director Iancu’s Speech to the Eastern District of Texas Bar Association
Last week, United States Patent and Trademark Office Director Andrei Iancu gave a speech to the Eastern District of Texas Bar Association, where he implied that patent trolls were not a real problem faced by innovators, but instead just a “narrative” made up to scare away innovators. Not only is this factually inaccurate, but it is troubling that Director Iancu would ignore the overwhelming data showing that low-quality patents have led to a rash of abusive patent litigation directed towards small companies and entrepreneurs over the past decade.
USPTO Weakens Important Program for Fighting Patent Abuse
Earlier this year the USPTO proposed a rule to change the standard, known as BRI, by which patents are evaluated during PTAB reviews. On Wednesday, USPTO announced a final rule that does away with the BRI standard in favor of a more restrictive alternative.