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WASHINGTON – This week, Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH) sent a letter to the Honorable Gene Dodaro, Comptroller General of the United States at the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO), requesting that GAO study ways in which small businesses and entrepreneurs understand the resources available to help them obtain intellectual property protections.
“Intellectual property plays an important role in protecting the new and innovative ideas that drive our nation’s economy. This is no less true for our nation’s small businesses and entrepreneurs that are responsible for creating almost two-thirds of the new jobs over the last two decades. While there are federal resources available to help entrepreneurs and small businesses obtain intellectual property protections, such as the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Pro Se Assistance program, it is unclear to what extent small businesses are aware of and take advantage of these resources,” said Chairman Chabot.
In May 2018, the Committee held a hearing to examine how small business owners can capitalize and safeguard their work through intellectual property protections. Additionally, in July 2018, the Committee held a hearing to analyze how small business owners in the digital technology industry use intellectual property to help their business, and the issues they face when navigating the intellectual property process.
To read the entire letter, click here.
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