R Sheet on Patents, Copyrights, and Intellectual Property Policy

Patents and copyrights are important government programs for stimulating invention and creativity but can be abused, which harms the public and stifles productive innovation.

R Street seeks to promote balanced patent and copyright systems that can both protect the value of intellectual property protection and the need to avoid abuses.

With respect to patents, R Street is specifically focused on patent examination quality, the International Trade Commission and software patents.

Regarding copyrights, R Street focuses on online intermediary liability and effects on new technologies.

Regarding open source and open data, R Street believes that increasing flexibility within data licensing regimes—both on the private and public levels—will encourage the growth of private enterprise and civic engagement.