The United States Chamber of Commerce recently launched an interactive online presentation called “The Innovation Lifecycle” which is supposed to help educate Americans and policymakers about the importance of IP protection. The video goes through the stages of the product lifecyle: Idea, R&D, Production, Distribution, and Benefits. While I agree that strong IP laws do promote sound trade and create jobs in America, the video seems to neglect the fact that innovation also sometimes comes from using other people’s ideas and making new products for consumers to enjoy.
Take for example the recent rise in “mashup music.” While certain forms of it have been around in clubs and other venues, the ease with which a person can take multiple sources of music and create a whole new song has developed into its own genre. The Global IP Center would be quick to say that this is profiting off of the work of the source artist’s material, however, if innovation is the goal the Global IP Center is trying to promote, then certainly someone creating a new form of music for listeners to enjoy should be championed as well. Creating new markets is a vital part of the US economy and will allow our country to stay competitive. Cavalierly dismissing innovation that comes in the form of modifying existing products fails to capture areas where new products can be developed.
To read the full, original article click on this link: American University Intellectual Property Brief » US Chamber of Commerce’s “The Innovation Lifecycle” and the New Economy
Author:JJ Gottschalk
