At SEMAFOR’s “Navigating Regulatory Waves: Pathways Toward Policy Innovation” event on October 28, policymakers and industry leaders spoke on how the U.S. can adapt to new economic and technological obstacles in an era of renewed geopolitical rivalry. The common question they answered was How can the U.S. stay innovative and competitive in this fast-changing world? Out of all the conversations that day, the one with Rep. Deborah Ross (D-NC) stood out to me—she spoke with conviction, humor, and a sense of urgency that cut through the usual talking points. Her first message: innovation shouldn’t come with a price tag. Rep. Ross didn’t mince words about President Donald Trump’s idea to impose new fees on patents. She called it a threat to first-time inventors and minority business enterprises (MBEs)—the people who most need access, not more disadvantages. “We need to support first-time patent holders to uphold the values this country was founded on,” she said. She emphasized that we need ...
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