IP Licensing Is Essential for Software Creation

Today, the App Association (ACT) and the Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) hosted a lunch briefing regarding the essential role that IP licensing provides for software creators to deliver consumers timely products. Consumers often take for granted the many licensing agreements that are needed to provide the software in smartphones, personal computers, or video game consoles. For example, Ben Golant, Chief Counsel for IP Policy at the Entertainment Software Association, spoke about how video game developers, online video providers, and communication platforms need to license their IP to video game console companies so consumers can experience the same product across many devices.

Strong IP rights protections promote creativity, innovation, and investment by software creators and by artists and entrepreneurs throughout the entire economy. In the software industry and other creative industries, consumers, ultimately, are the beneficiaries of such creativity, innovation, and investment.