The heads of various trade groups and organizations. It’s a long list: NMPA (David Israelite—he made the list this year), the RIAA (Mitch Glazier—he made the list), DiMA (Chris Harrison), NAB (Gordon Smith), CTA (Gary Shapiro), IFPI (Frances Moore), IA (Michael Beckerman) BPI (Geoff Taylor), A2IM (Richard Burgess), EFF (Cindy Cohn), MMF (Annabella Coldrick), MusicFIRST (Chris Israel), and many more I’ve left out.
On February 7th, the Committee for Education’s Deputy Executive Director, Sarah Abernathy, testified about the importance of education investments before the House Budget Committee.
Wish #1: Congress acts to clarify Section 101 Patent Subject Matter Eligibility Standards
Congress should consider legislation to address recent Supreme Court decisions that have unfortunately narrowed the scope of patent protection for life sciences and software technology by expanding judicially created exceptions to patent eligible subject matter. A few companies are pleased with the new law on subject matter eligibility and therefore are vocally opposed to any legislation. However, the PTO Director has highlighted the new uncertainty and unpredictability of this area of the law resulting from the recent Supreme Court decisions, and a large and growing number of associations from the IP community are asking for a legislative solution.
In May 2018, Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) and the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) – two of the largest IP bar associations – adopted a joint legislative proposal to address concerns regarding current patent subject matter eligibility jurisprudence. Since that time, several other IP and patent bar associations have lent their support for the joint proposal, including the New York Intellectual Property Law Association (NYIPLA), the Boston Patent Law Association (BPLA), the Philadelphia IP Law Association (PIPLA) and the National Association of Patent Practitioners (NAPP).
In an investment strategy first popularized by Warren Buffet, investors are encouraged to seek out companies that are surrounded by a competitive “moat.”
Investopedia, the online financial wiki, expands on this as a business’ ability to protect its competitive advantage, long-term profits, and market share from competing firms. This moat “serves to protect those inside the fortress and their riches from outsiders.”
AT&T and Verizon currently operate behind a moat of market dominance, but these companies did not reach the commanding heights of the wireless industry through organic growth alone.
SiriusXM is mounting a lonely campaign against the Music Modernization Act (MMA), saying that because AM/FM radio doesn’t pay artists fairly, neither should they.
SiriusXM is right on one thing: it is absurd and insulting that terrestrial AM/FM radio does not compensate artists for playing their recordings when every other music platform does. One major fundamental injustice to music creators, however, cannot be used to justify others.
The House and Senate are preparing to go to conference to draft the final version of the 2018 Farm Bill. Current funding expires on September 30, 2018.
Opioid addiction has been a hot topic in Washington and ACG has been keeping a watchful eye on Congress’ efforts. Both chambers of Congress are determined to pass sweeping reform to stop an epidemic that has taken far too many American lives.
As one of the most diverse and vibrant states in the country, it comes as no surprise that Texas’ music legacy is as rich and creative as its population. George Strait has had more No. 1 (44) songs on Billboard’s Hot Country Chart than any other artist. Beyoncé has reigned on the charts since her debut as part of Destiny’s Child, and Selena catapulted Tejano music into the mainstream as Billboard’s top-selling Latin artist of the 1990s.
And while these artists appear as if they have little in common, they are all Texans.
Texas’ diverse musical heritage is the foundation of the state’s continued commitment to musical greatness. During a recent hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on the Music Modernization Act, bill co-sponsor Sen. John Cornyn described the impact of the Texas music economy.
What's one app you couldn't live without? We all have our favorites, but chances are our treasured apps all have one thing in common—they wouldn't work without the 4G connectivity that is credited with the rise of internet-enabled mobile applications.
People who paid close attention during the 2016 presidential campaign will likely recall then-candidate Donald Trump’s frequent assertions that the trade relationship between the United States and China was one-sided in favor of China. A significant part of his argument was that, in addition to a trade deficit, China frequently stole the intellectual property of United States companies.1
According to Neilsen, the overall consumption of music in the U.S. increased nearly 13 percent in 2017. R&B/hip-hop has emerged as the most popular genre in the U.S., yet Americans still love the classics – the Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts’ Club Band was the top-selling vinyl album last year, 40 years after its release changed music forever. The quality and timelessness of music combined with innovative technologies that now respect and support it has led to growth and optimism for artists.
District Dems, including ACG partner, Eriade Williams, launched to be a resource for campaigns around the country.
Now that the Federal Communications Commission has voted to repeal the Obama administration’s Title II internet regulation and the dialogue is a little less clouded with catastrophist rhetoric, we should stand back and consider what this decision actually achieved, what the likely impact is, and what policy makers can do now to bring some much needed certainty to internet markets.
ACG President David Urban discusses the Alabama Senate race on CNN's Sunday edition of State of the Union.
David Urban and Manus Cooney, American Continental Group
Urban, who helped President Trump in Urban’s home state of Pennsylvania, has a client list that keeps growing; Cooney, a former chief counsel and staff director for Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, is a virtuoso at intellectual policy.
American Continental Group has signed another five clients: Cognizant Technology Solutions, Diebold Nixdorf, News Corporation, the Onex Corporation and Textron. The firm has signed more than 30 new clients this year, helped by the reputation of David Urban, a lobbyist there who’s seen as close to Trump’s administration after serving as a senior adviser on Trump’s campaign and helping him win Pennsylvania.
Standard partisan rancor was worsened last year after the February 2016 death of conservative Justice Antonin Scalia. President Barack Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland, but Republicans cited the impending presidential election and succeeded in blocking a hearing to consider the nomination.
David Urban’s inbox is jammed. If you don’t mind, he just needs a moment to make sure there are no crises requiring his attention. The burly lobbyist settles into his office chair overlooking glass-paneled downtown Washington office buildings and sifts through the missives, which these days are heavy on Trump administration access seekers. “Can you give me Steve Mnuchin’s email?” he reads aloud — a note from someone seeking the Treasury secretary’s contact.
Shawn Smeallie, executive director of the Coalition for Horse Racing Integrity, is optimistic the Horseracing Integrity Act of 2017 will advance. Many of the owners supporting the proposed legislation have strong political ties to the current Congress.
Here are your third-quarter Lobbying Disclosure Act revenue rankings:
"David Urban is having a bumper year. After masterminding President Donald Trump’s crucial 2016 election victory in Pennsylvania, he has quickly emerged as one of Washington’s most influential lobbyists."
Who is Manus Cooney? Those in Washington, DC, know the name well, but many practitioners in the intellectual property space are probably not well acquainted with Cooney, but Manus Cooney is a name you should know if you are at all involved in the world of intellectual property.
The Playbook Power List is our look at the 30 most powerful people and groups in Trump’s Washington. These are the people who know what's really happening and will determine what gets done and undone. This list is the product of hundreds of interviews and conversations over the course of months.
Conservatives are revolting against the GOP health care measure. David Greene talks to David Urban, president of American Continental Group, and a former adviser to the Trump presidential campaign.
Marla Grossman is known as one of the country’s preeminent intellectual property government relations attorneys. Dubbed “The Influencer” by I AM Modern Magazine, the Washington Business Journal claimed, “Marla Grossman seems to turn everything she touches into gold” and named her one of the Washington DC area’s “Most Influential Business Women”.
American Continental Group has joined a roster of lobby shops working for the National Association of Home Builders.
"If regular order returns — committee consideration of authorizing legislation followed by appropriations — those closest to the legislation will be the highest priorities and appropriations staff will be key players. If not, leadership staff of both parties will continue to be sought after. Since there will be a new Democratic Leader in the Senate, his staff may come at a premium."