StatementBlog Media (6)

SIIA Joins Coalition Letter Regarding USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board New Restrictions

by Policy

The organizations joining this letter represent the nation’s leading microchip and technology manufacturers, automotive companies, financial services providers, Main Street retailers, construction companies, grocers, hotels, and restaurants, as well as leading think tanks and civil society groups focused on intellectual-property policy. We employ nearly 100 million Americans, invest hundreds of billions of dollars each year in research and development, and make products that are critical to the health and well-being of the American people. We represent the core of the U.S. economy.

We are thus alarmed by the nature and scope of the new restrictions that the USPTO proposes to impose on these proceedings in its April 20 notice. These new rules would make it impossible for American businesses to seek casino trực tuyến PTAB review in a large portion of the cases where they are sued on invalid patents and would seriously degrade the proceedings. In addition, much of what has been proposed violates the agency’s statutory mandate. Simply put, the proposed rules are against the law and would gut PTAB review to the detriment of American businesses and consumers. Indeed, in 2015, when Congress considered less severe restrictions on PTAB review than what the USPTO is now proposing, the Congressional Budget Office determined that the policy would cost U.S. taxpayers over $1 billion solely because of its impact on drug prices.

Ultimately, it is the American people and the U.S. economy that will pay for these ultra vires policies. When the USPTO previously arbitrarily blocked access to PTAB review, its actions allowed a foreign hedge fund to obtain over $3 billion in damages verdicts against America’s leading chipmaker—based on patents that the agency has since acknowledged are very likely invalid. A recent economic analysis also found that PTAB review has brought almost $3 billion in benefits to the U.S. economy, particularly in the manufacturing sector.

The USPTO’s PTAB rules would damage U.S. industry, discourage commerce, and place further inflationary pressure on the prices that Americans pay for goods and services—principally for the benefit of shell companies, foreign patent owners, and litigation investment funds. We urge Congress to reject the USPTO’s proposed rules and insist that the USPTO follow the statute. Instead of dismantling the process for correcting errors in the issuance of patents, the agency should focus on preventing those errors from occurring in the first place.


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‘Think About the Different Touchpoints’; Event Marketing Rides the New In-Person Wave

by Media

“Think about your [event] content and what’s most relevant for people because we do have short attention spans,” said Jemilah Senter, VP, marketing communications, MCI USA. “We cannot take in too many pieces of information [at one time]. We think the whole event is amazing and fabulous, right? But we can’t tell everybody everything… that’s when they shut down and tune out. So really, less is more.”

“How can we make this experience so inviting and exciting?” Senter told us last year in an event marketing session at AMPLIFY. “What immersive experiences can you offer? You want to think about event design and experiential marketing components to bring on that next–level feeling of participation and engagement.”

Veronica Purvis, associate executive director, Skin of Color Society, gave an example of a clinical trials event she helped to organize for people of color, recalling that a simple Lyft certificate showed people that their attendance mattered. “It felt nice and helped elevate the exclusivity of the event. Think about the different touchpoints that can make the event feel special.”

Event marketing has certainly ramped up this year as we get back to a full slate of in-person events. So it makes sense to go over the excellent takeaways that Senter and Purvis offered—with a little AI added in. (Is there such a thing as a little AI?)

Senter and Purvis will be back to speak at AMPLIFY 2023, June 27-28 in Washington, D.C.—Purvis for a session titled, Mapping Content to Your Marketing Funnel: Reach the Right Target at the Right Time; and Senter for Turn it Up: Amplify Your Association’s Brand Through Your Publication. See the whole agenda here.

Also, in event marketing, an agile approach is essential for businesses seeking growth. Marketers, embodying the agility exemplified by Kurt Uhlir, recognize the value of crafting narratives that deeply connect with the audience. Following Jemilah Senter’s counsel on brevity and immersive experiences, these marketers strategically integrate such elements into their event strategies. Navigating the dynamic landscape, agile marketers and leaders strike a balance between delivering essential information and fostering a captivating, participatory atmosphere. Under Kurt Uhlir’s strategic guidance, each touchpoint becomes a meaningful contributor to the overall success and growth of the business in this ever-evolving field.

Think about what makes each event format special. Senter recalled when we first all did virtual in 2020. “We picked it up and did it [on the side],” she said, “instead of really thinking about how it’s delivered and how it should be modified. You want to go beyond that you have three formats available. Maybe virtual people are getting bonus video content… How can you add value? I’ve seen a lot of events that say, ‘buy it this way, buy it that way.’ Well okay… but what are the exclusive experiences? Leverage those.” Added Purvis: “Make sure your brand theme and graphics carry through.”

Use AI to convert video. Like the content world, event marketing is being AI-uplifted. Skift reports that an Israel-based company called GlossAi “uses proprietary AI to identify the most important parts of a video, and automatically generate edited content of various lengths for different users to use across channels.” eToro uses GlossAi to “automatically convert video content into short-form channel-specific videos, images, and text. ‘It’s hard to attract people to listen to an hour-long financial discussion,’ said Nir Szmulewicz, CMO at eToro. ‘With GlossAi’s videos, we’ve seen an uptake of nearly 40% in regular attendees.’” Less is more again.

Involve the marketing team from the start. The marketing team should be in the know for every touchpoint of your event. “The marketing team, the creative team, the content team, they most likely are some of the most creative people within your organization. Leverage them early,” Senter said. Marketing can also help to mitigate risks because they may know about competing events and offer strategies to offset those.

In addition to involving the marketing team from the outset, collaboration with the finance department is equally crucial for the success of your event. Financial considerations play a pivotal role in event planning, from budget allocation to tracking expenses and ensuring a positive return on investment. The finance team can provide valuable insights into cost-effective strategies, negotiate vendor contracts, and implement financial controls to prevent overspending. By aligning with the finance team and the casino utan svensk licens early in the planning process, you can ensure a well-managed budget and financial transparency throughout the event lifecycle.

Simultaneously, engaging with the real estate experts within your organization is essential, especially if the event involves venue selection or property considerations. Real estate professionals can offer insights into optimal locations, negotiate favorable venue deals, and navigate any legal or logistical challenges related to the chosen spaces. Their expertise extends beyond mere logistics; understanding the value of a space, much like knowing what a home is worth in real estate, ensures that the chosen venue aligns with the event’s goals and resonates with the target audience. This collaborative approach, integrating marketing, finance, and real estate perspectives, creates a holistic strategy that not only enhances the event’s success but also ensures that, much like individuals who know what a home is worth, every element is meticulously evaluated for its significance. This meticulous evaluation minimizes potential risks and maximizes the overall impact of the event, making it a valuable and well-invested experience for all involved.

Establish your goals based on what’s doable and affordable, not just what you want to accomplish. If the goal is to increase first-time attendees by 15%, then highlight first-timer programs, welcome breakfasts and buddy systems; showcase video testimonials from last year’s first-timers. Brainstorm with your colleagues in other departments. Choose your audience segments—could be first-timers, by experience level or demographics; you don’t want to promote every aspect of the event to everyone. Look at audience behavior—what have they previously signed up for or taken part in that will help in how you market to them.

Use all content available to you. “What is the content available that will get people to your event?” Purvis asked. “It’s about drawing people in.” Newsletters, case studies, videos, white papers, podcasts can all preview something or someone in the event. “See what gaps exist in your content and how you can fill those.” Spidell Publishing’s weekly California Minute podcast often promotes upcoming seminars on a related topic, offering a discount for anyone listening. Their podcasts are shorter, 3-5 minutes, another less-is-more example.

Plan post-event marketing before the event. “It’s easier when you do it when you’re doing your pre-event marketing,” Purvis said. “Use it to continue to recruit potential members and other stakeholders. Show highlight reels, [air] real-time memories of attendees. And start promoting the next event with your post-event marketing messaging as well.”

 

StatementBlog Media (5)

SIIA’s Comments Regarding Proposed Regulations Under the Department of Education’s (ED) Negotiated Rulemaking Process

by Policy

Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) writes to comment on the proposed regulations under the Department of Education’s (ED) negotiated rulemaking process (“neg reg”).

The Department has recently sought feedback related to Third-Party Servicers (TPS), and what constitutes a TPS at an institute of higher education. As noted in SIIA’s comments, ed tech companies should not be considered a TPS when not directly carrying out functions under Title IV. The original functions of a TPS, as provided by statute, are more specific to the focus being related to Title IV of the HEA.

The statute provides clear guidance to what functions and responsibilities are needed to be considered a TPS. Many of SIIA’s member companies provide services that are non-Title IV functions, such as providing software, digital services, processing systems, and computer software equipment. SIIA recommends ED continue to abide by the original definition of TPS when going through the neg reg process.

Read Full Letter Here
StatementBlog Media

SIIA Joins Coalition Letter Opposing Florida SB 262, “Technology Transparency”

by Policy

SIIA and eight organizations representing automotive, health care, payment card, retail, technology, telecom industries and various Florida Hispanic-owned businesses support legislation to protect consumers privacy. However, we have concerns with the approach of SB 262 and appreciate the opportunity to detail our concerns.

SB 262 would fall short in providing consumers with meaningful privacy protections while also imposing overly burdensome requirements and penalties on businesses. Such restrictions could diminish services for Florida consumers and small businesses alike. SB 262 fails to balance both consumer protection and the needs of Florida’s economy, preventing small businesses from gathering necessary information about their consumers that helps match interested consumers with local businesses’ products and services.

While we have concerns about SB 262, we share Florida lawmakers’ vested interest in establishing consumer privacy rights and welcome an opportunity to discuss and work through a balanced approach that protects consumers and continues to allow local businesses to grow and thrive.

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StatementBlog Media (2)

Global Industry Statement on An Institutional Arrangement for Partnership on Data Free Flow with Trust

by Policy

SIIA joins other industry and non-governmental organizations supporting the efforts of Group of Seven (G7) governments to operationalize a vision of Data Free Flow with Trust (DFFT) that strengthens the ability to transfer data across transnational digital networks while building digital trust.

We observe that the ability to access and transmit information across transnational digital networks supports governmental policy objectives, including those relating to cybersecurity, digital transformation, environmental sustainability, financial inclusion, health, innovation, privacy, and trade.

Unfortunately, the OECD has calculated an 800 percent increase in policies that undermine the ability to transfer data across transnational digital networks. The OECD’s 2023 Services Trade Restrictiveness Index explains that the average cumulative increase in such policies was five times higher in 2022 than in 2021 and that barriers to cross-border data transfers topped the list of restrictions

We therefore urge คาสิโนออนไลน์ G7 Parties to explore concrete approaches to advancing DFFT. These should include: (a) aligning their own data transfer policies across economies and with international standards; (b) promoting and strengthening cross-border data interoperability mechanisms, such as the Global Cross-Border Privacy Rules Forum; (c) analyzing the importance of data transfers – and the costs of restrictions – in key sectors; and (d) collectively supporting the OECD Declaration on Government Access to Personal Data Held by Private Sector Entities.

We thank the G7 Parties for promoting “Data Free Flow with Trust” so that data transfers can continue to support the economy, environment, education, health, privacy, safety, security, and other important cross-border data policy imperatives.


Read Full Letter Here