The Future of Standards in IP & Innovation

A fireside chat with

DR. WALTER COPAN

UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR STANDARDS & TECHNOLOGY AND NIST DIRECTOR

DATE: May 13, 2020
TIME: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
LOCATION: Maggiano’s Buckhead
PRICE: $48.00

1 GA CLE CREDIT PENDING

REGISTER EARLY, SEATING IS LIMITED

Dr. Walter G. Copan was confirmed by Congress as Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Director on October 5, 2017.

The United States has led the world in innovation, research, and technology development since World War II, but that leadership is being challenged on a global scale. At risk is America’s leadership in industries of the future such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and robotics. In combination with the rapid, foundational advances in technology, innovation has never been more critical to U.S. economic competitiveness and national security than it is today.

As NIST Director Dr. Copan has championed three very "hot" initiatives affecting innovation and intellectual property:

AI STANDARDS

In mid-2019 NIST released a plan for prioritizing federal agency engagement in the development of standards for artificial intelligence (AI) . The plan recommends the federal government “commit to deeper, consistent, long-term engagement in AI standards development activities to help the United States to speed the pace of reliable, robust, and trustworthy AI technology development.”

STANDARDS-ESSENTIAL LICENSING

In late 2019 NIST, USPTO and DOJ issued a joint Policy Statement on Remedies for Standards-Essential Patents Subject to Voluntary F/RAND Commitments. The statement makes clear that standards-essential patents (SEPs) should be treated no differently than any other patent, and all remedies are to be available depending on the facts of a case. This action effectively reset a 2013 ruling to calibrate U.S. patent law to incentivize and protect, and not hamper, the growth of standards-based technology.

PRIVACY FRAMEWORK

In early 2020 NIST released the first draft of a privacy framework that sets an ethical foundation for data usage to accelerate the adoption of emerging technology such as artificial intelligence, biometrics and the Internet of Things. This enormous step will help set outer boundaries for the rapid expansion of emerging technology industries.

ABOUT WALT COPAN

Dr. Copan has had a distinguished and diverse career as a science and technology executive in large and small corporations, U.S. government, nonprofit and other public-sector settings, including regional vice president for the Licensing Executives Society (LES) USA and Canada. He has contributed to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the Council on Competitiveness, the World Intellectual Property Organization and the United Nations on innovation, technology transfer, energy and economic development matters. He holds B.S./B.A. degrees in chemistry and music from Case Western Reserve University and a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Case Western Reserve University.