Walter Copan, vice president for research and technology transfer at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, on Dec. 18. The hearing, titled “IP and Strategic Competition with China: Part IV – Patents, Standards, and Lawfare,” examined the role of specialized patents in the United States’ competition with China.
Copan, a former director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and an expert in intellectual property, technology transfer and innovation policy, highlighted the importance of strong IP protections for core technologies essential for international industry standards. He stated, “The U.S. leads the world in key standards and, consequently, is a net exporter of innovation.” He emphasized that reliable IP rights are crucial for creating trusted global supply chains and value for consumers and shareholders.
During his testimony, Copan expressed concerns about regulatory frameworks and competition laws in China and the European Union, which he argued undermine fair and transparent intellectual property commerce for U.S. innovators. He urged for stronger intellectual property and innovation frameworks in the U.S. to maintain competitiveness globally.
“The United States is at a crucial juncture regarding the future of American innovation leadership, and our economic and national security are closely tied to the reliability and protections provided by our IP and innovation systems,” Copan testified. He concluded, “The U.S. must once again lead the world by example, through the development of intellectual property rights policies that support innovation at home and across jurisdictions.”
