this Friday, April 26, is ``World IP Day,'' when countries around the world celebrate the role of intellectual property in encouraging innovation and creativity. It is an opportunity for us to acknowledge the authors, artists, and musicians who enrich our lives; the inventors whose work is transforming our digital economy; and creators around the world. Whether you are an inventor, a creative artist, or a small business owner protecting your brand, you deserve the benefit of your work. By protecting those works, we incentivize future developments that benefit us all. As lawmakers, our goal must be to provide strong and effective protections for creators, while ensuring that their creations can be appreciated, used, and enjoyed. This policy is central to the American economy, where 35 percent of our GDP is generated by IP-related industries. A vibrant intellectual property system fosters growth not only in our country, but also around the world. Earlier this month, I introduced legislation that would strengthen an innovation program created by the Patent and Trademark Office, the Patents for Humanity Program. The Patents for Humanity Program rewards a select number of exceptional innovators who apply their intellectual property to address global humanitarian needs.…
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