Copy of Media Library (41)

SIIA’s Comprehensive Response to Proposed COPPA Rule

by Policy

In response to the Federal Trade Commission’s notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on Children’s Online Privacy Protection (COPPA) Rule, the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) expressed appreciation for the Commission’s attention to ongoing guidance. SIIA addressing the impact of the Rule on education technology (ed tech) vendors, collaboration between the Commission and the Department of Education (ED), the influence on innovation practices, accessibility of technology, and the promotion of child safety and parental control.

SIIA emphasized the importance of the Commission’s oversight role and welcomed the opportunity to contribute insights on the aforementioned themes.

Full Response Here
Copy of Media Library (67)

SIIA Joins Coalition to Oppose PERA’s Impact on U.S. Patent Landscape

by Policy
The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) has joined a coalition of organizations in expressing strong opposition to the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA), specifically S. 2140. In a collective statement, the signatories argue that PERA poses a significant threat to the established U.S. patent system by allowing patents for a wide range of activities, such as business methods, legal agreements, media content, and entertainment, as long as they involve technology use. The letter emphasizes concerns about potential extensive litigation against American businesses, challenging the longstanding principle of limiting patents to technological improvements. The coalition stresses that PERA deviates from established legal principles, potentially enabling the patenting of commonplace daily activities. Furthermore, the letter contends that PERA would overturn crucial legal principles that have protected inventors and upheld U.S. innovation policy for over 170 years. Examples of recent court decisions that PERA would override are cited, illustrating the potential adverse impact on various industries. In conclusion, the coalition urges the Judiciary Committee to refrain from advancing the bill, asserting that PERA would disrupt centuries of established law and have detrimental effects on the American innovation economy.
Full Letter Here
Copy of Media Library (38)

SIIA Calls for President Biden to Present His American Innovation Strategy in Thursday’s State of the Union Speech

by Policy

Washington, D.C. (March 4, 2024) – In advance of President Biden’s State of the Union speech on Thursday, the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) today urged President Biden to deliver a vision that allows the American technology to continue to lead the world in innovation and creativity, and remain a powerful driver for the American economy.

The following can be attributed to Chris Mohr, President, SIIA.

“Policies that help foster competition, creativity and innovation will further allow the software and information industries to play an important role in tackling many important challenges facing our nation from consumer privacy to worrying national security threats – many of which we expect to hear President Biden address in Thursday’s speech.

“The United States’ information technology sector is the envy of the rest of the world.  For our country to maintain its digital leadership, it is essential that our elected officials seed the next generation of progress. President Biden should increase federal funding for STEM education and encourage passage of the bipartisan CREATE AI Act, which facilitates immediate progress in new technologies like artificial intelligence by increasing access to much-needed datasets for academics, nonprofits and startups.

“Technological progress depends on the development of sensible, risk-based and uniform rules of the road for the business of information. We urge the President to support a national privacy law: one that both protects consumers and our fundamental freedoms. Furthermore, as America continues to lead the way for advanced technologies like AI, it is essential that AI policy balances safeguarding against potential risks and fostering innovation and competition. By supporting transparency and accountability without hindering progress in the American tech sector, the United States can unlock the potential of AI to the benefit of American consumers, businesses, and industries.

“Collectively, as a nation, we are navigating the all-important challenge of ensuring our youngest Americans are safe online. President Biden should embrace a vision that helps keep kids both safe and connected. We urge President Biden to embrace a principled approach that prioritizes the privacy and safety of kids and empowers parents to be active participants in how their child operates online without fear of exploitation.

“By supporting an agenda that guards against potential risks without stifling technological development and progress, President Biden has an opportunity to provide a vision that encourages smart policies that will continue to unlock American innovation.”

Copy of Media Library (37)

SIIA Statement Regarding EU DMA Compliance Deadline

by Policy

The Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) issued the following statement regarding today’s deadline for several leading American companies to comply with the European Union’s (EU) Digital Markets Act (DMA). The statement can be attributed to Morten Skroejer, Senior Director for Technology Competition Policy, SIIA.

“Beginning today, the EU requires a handful of leading American tech companies to come into compliance with the DMA, an unwieldy and untested new regulatory regime that the EU has developed to kneecap a small group of leading U.S.-based companies in the misguided hope that that could help boost their domestic and other foreign companies’ ability to compete on the global stage. These regulations however, will come at a cost. The DMA is expected to drain billions from the US economy, including tens of billions of dollars from small businesses and startups, and threaten American jobs. And, it is likely to expose European consumers to new and substantial cybersecurity risks – something that the EU only belatedly seemed to realize.

“It is essential that President Biden stand up against these kinds of discriminatory regulations.  As other nations consider similar laws that would single out American companies, the Biden administration must fight to stop efforts to recreate this same approach elsewhere.”

Learn more about SIIA’s perspective on the DMA here.