Posted by Juan HardoyDirector, EMEA Anti-Piracy & Digital Crime, Microsoft
Today, I had the pleasure of speaking at the Seventh Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy in Istanbul, which was opened by Turkey’s Prime Minister, His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. As with every Global Congress, Microsoft is grateful to its conveners, the World Customs Organization, INTERPOL, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the International Chamber of Commerce/Business Action to Stop Counterfeiting and Piracy (ICC/BASCAP), as strong allies in the fight against counterfeiting.
Whether the focus is on toys, merchandise, medicines or software, the organizations that are deeply concerned with counterfeit products and the serious harm that they cause, cuts cross-industry—from the retail, pharmaceutical and consumer goods industries, to governments, law enforcement and consumer protection agencies. It is not surprising then, that the most effective solutions to the collective problem of counterfeiting are rooted in cross-industry partnership and cooperation.
During our panel discussion on “Capturing the Elusive Infringer on the Internet,” my counterparts at the International Anti-Counterfeiting Coalition, MarkMonitor, UPS and the International Trademark Association and I examined the progress that enforcement officials and IP rights holders have made through new, collaborative processes that are changing the way we address counterfeiting and piracy on the Internet.
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Posted by Horacio GutierrezCorporate Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Microsoft
Today, we’re pleased to announce that ZTE, one of the world’s largest smartphone companies, has joined a long list of companies that have signed patent license agreements with Microsoft. Under the agreement, Microsoft grants ZTE a license to Microsoft’s worldwide patent portfolio for ZTE phones, tablets, computers and other devices running Android and Chrome OS. This follows our announcement last week of a similar agreement with Foxconn’s parent company, Hon Hai.
The ZTE and Foxconn agreements show once more that technology companies around the world, including some of the world’s largest and fastest growing manufacturers anchored in China, recognize licensing is an effective way to share technology and build on each other’s work, accelerating the pace of innovation and delighting customers.
Posted by Jeff MeisnerEditor, Microsoft on the Issues
On the eve of the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, Microsoft, along with the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) and TIME, will host the Creativity Conference on Friday.
This conference will convene leaders from the world of politics, media, business and the arts to engage in a direct dialogue on the role creativity plays in our economy and in creating the workforce of the future. The event will serve as the framework for an energetic discussion of how creativity strengthens and shapes the U.S. economy.
As a leader in creativity and innovation, Microsoft understands the critical intersection between technology and the arts and its ability to drive innovation, invention and competitiveness. Creativity plays an integral role in making America a unique force on the world stage. Together, policymakers, educators, business leaders, entrepreneurs and artists can identify the key barriers and opportunities to support and expand the creative community and the economic growth driven by sectors devoted to creativity, such as the technology industry.
Today, Brad Smith, Microsoft’s General Counsel and Executive Vice President, will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on the comprehensive immigration bill introduced by the bipartisan group of senators known as the ‘Gang of 8.’ He will be joined on the panel by several industry and policy experts to discuss the importance of high-skilled immigration reform in order to strengthen the economy and foster innovation in the United States.
Last week, we announced our support of this historic bipartisan immigration bill and have regularly spoken in favor of high-skilled immigration reform and investments in science, math, technology and engineering (STEM) education.
Posted by Mary SnappDeputy General Counsel, Microsoft
Last week, Brad Smith wrote a post on the encouraging signs that privacy is not only on peoples’ minds but that real actions are being taken to strengthen consumers’ online privacy. Key groups helping to shape the future of online privacy are moving closer to consensus on standards and rules to better protect people’s information. And consumer groups, as well as consumers themselves, are raising their voices and urging the computing industry to work together to give people more choice and control over how information is collected and shared online.
Today, we’re showing our commitment to that evolving dialogue with the launch of several consumer-focused actions: a targeted ad campaign in two U.S. cities – Washington, D.C. and Kansas City, MO – and a new online resource for consumers that will help them learn about their privacy behaviors and take steps to shape their online personas.