Patrick Leahy: “as we finally, finally begin to turn the corner on the coronavirus pandemic, we have the hard work of rebuilding our…”

“as we finally, finally begin to turn the corner on the coronavirus pandemic, we have the hard work of rebuilding our economy. One of the core engines of the American economy is intellectual property. From the smallest startup to the largest multinational company, intellectual property is central to creating jobs, boosting economic output, and protecting consumers. So it is appropriate that, today, we celebrate World Intellectual Property Day, which recognizes the important role that intellectual property plays in promoting innovation, creativity, and economic growth. This year's World IP Day theme celebrates the contributions of small- and medium-sized businesses to the global marketplace. Why? Well, these small enterprises make up 90 percent of the world's businesses. Whether through protecting their brands with trademarks or their inventions with patents, intellectual property allows these small companies to grow and succeed; yet, here at home, far too many Americans with an entrepreneurial spirit find key elements of the intellectual property system out of their reach. Last week, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property--and I am privileged to chair that--held an important hearing to find ways to boost access in the patent system. We know that women and people of color are chronically underrepresented in the patent system, which results in a serious loss to our economy.…”