Tag Archives: intellectual property

Clinton Condemns Libyan Violence / Growing U.S. Farm Exports / Hoops Diplomacy

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The chorus of condemnation of the Libyan government continues with remarks from the U.S. representative to the U.N. and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. The U.S. is promoting its agricultural products worldwide. As they prepare to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, U.S. officials believe governments must foster innnovation. Armenian, Turkish and U.S. athletes meet on the basketball court.

The World Speaks “With One Voice”
The world has spoken “with one voice” and “with an unusual and important sense of urgency” in condemning the Libyan government’s violence against its people, says Susan Rice, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations. Rice speaks at the White House following President Obama’s meeting with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Clinton on Libyan Violence
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Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton calls for Libya’s leader, Muammar Qadhafi, to be held accountable for violent acts “which violate international legal obligations and common decency.” “These violations of universal rights are unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Clinton, right, tells the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Growing U.S. Farm Exports
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U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says that the United States will continue to aggressively promote its agricultural products around the world. “We are very focused on exports, and we are doing it in a very strategic way,” Vilsack said during the 2011 Agricultural Outlook Forum.

Fostering Innovation
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Fostering and supporting innovation is a key message the United States government wants to convey as it prepares to host the annual meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in November. Speaking at a recent meeting in Washington, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs Robert D. Hormats says “government policies can help create an environment conducive of innovation.”

Muresan with Turkish and Armenian playersHoops Diplomacy
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Two dozen Armenian and Turkish basketball players came to the U.S. for a second round of hoops diplomacy January 29-February 12. The teams, who first met in August 2010 at a U.S.-hosted basketball program in Turkey, aimed to learn about scholastic sports and leadership, and trained with former professional star Gheorghe Mureşan, at right, in Izmir and in Washington, D.C.

Obama Denounces Iran Attack / The Carbon Capture Challenge / Native American Art

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President Obama denounces a terrorist attack on a mosque in Iran. Reducing greenhouse gases is going to take more than cap-and-trade. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton hosts a town hall meeting to discuss the release of the first Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review. Read our handbook on U.S. media law. The U.S. gives Jordan vehicles to help in its fight to protect intellectual property. Global citizens speak up about climate change. And finally, explore a photo gallery of Native American art.

Obama Denounces Iran Attack
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President Obama denounces a bombing attack targeting Iranian civilians in Chabahar as “disgraceful and cowardly” and says those who carried out the attack must be held accountable. “The murder of innocent civilians in their place of worship during Ashura is a despicable offense,” Obama says.

The Challenge of Carbon Capture
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Cap-and-trade and renewable energy alone likely won’t be able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This reality has prompted governments and companies to increasingly look for new and unconventional solutions to the climate problem.

A Diplomacy, Development Review
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A newly released internal study of the U.S. State Department lays out a plan for better coordinating U.S. responses to crises, conflicts and natural disasters around the world. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, right, unveiled the State Department’s Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development Review, which suggests changes in organization, coordination with other U.S. government agencies, and implementation of overseas programs.

Media Law Handbook
What are the privileges and responsibilities of a free press? In Media Law Handbook, Professor Jane Kirtley, Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law at the University of Minnesota, explores how free societies answer this question.

Protecting Intellectual Property in Jordan
The Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement donates ten vehicles to the Jordan Standards and Metrology Organization headquarters to contribute to Jordan’s robust intellectual property rights enforcement regime.

Global Messages: Climate Change
America.gov asked people around the world to write a message to world leaders about climate change. We received responses from all corners of the globe. Read their messages.

Photo Gallery: Native American Art
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The artistic traditions of American Indians convey the resilience of the United States’ indigenous peoples. Thanks to the U.S. State Department’s Art in Embassies program, which installs art in U.S. diplomatic posts, global audiences can enjoy the talents of many American artists — tribal and otherwise. Explore the work in this photo gallery. At right, a portrait of the legendary Sioux chief Jack Red Cloud.

A Boost for Northern Ireland / Fighting IP Crime / Hong Kong Cleanup

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In Northern Ireland, investments by U.S. corporations are paying off. A top U.S. lawman calls for action on intellectual property crime. The United States wants to know if China is unfairly boosting its green technologies industries. And cleanup volunteers reach the beach in Hong Kong.

Investing in Northern Ireland
New investments in Northern Ireland by U.S. corporations bring new jobs and opportunities, particularly for young people, says Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Clinton, right with Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuiness, says, “fostering economic growth in Northern Ireland will do more than provide much-needed paychecks. A stronger economy in Northern Ireland will help secure a lasting peace.”


Protecting Intellectual Property
U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder calls for greater international law enforcement cooperation to combat intellectual property piracy that robs industry of billions of dollars annually and endangers the safety of consumers worldwide.

U.S. Probing China’s Green Tech
The United States is investigating China’s practices affecting trade and investment in green technologies, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk says. The investigation was initiated in response to a petition filed by the United Steelworkers union that alleges China unfairly supports its domestic producers of green technologies.

Good News For Costa Rican Trees
Costa Rica’s trees again will benefit from an innovative U.S. program to promote conservation of the world’s tropical forests. The governments of the United States and Costa Rica, the Central Bank of Costa Rica and the U.S.-based nonprofit Nature Conservancy have concluded agreements that will provide more than $27 million over the next 15 years for conservation of tropical forest.

A Makeover for Hong Kong Beaches
Volunteer teams in Hong Kong have joined the 25th International Coastal Cleanup sponsored by the U.S.-based nongovernmental organization Ocean Conservancy. “We want to put Hong Kong on the world map in terms of the conservation effort,” says Nissa Marion, project director for EcoVision’s Hong Kong International Coastal Cleanup Challenge. At right, volunteers collect trash from a Hong Kong beach.

What the World Needs Now Is Innovation, More Innovation

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Guest blogger Joachim von Heimburg is one of the leading practitioners of “open innovation,” with 30 years of experience in R&D and product development at Procter and Gamble. Since 2009 he has worked as an independent innovation guide.

Experts and entrepreneurs from around the world discuss what governments can do to promote high-tech entrepreneurship and what the shape of technology entrepreneurship will be in the future.


Climate change. Secure energy and water supply. Food production for the growing world population. These all pose challenges that require many innovations of a global scope. But is the world innovating globally?

Political leaders love innovation and want more of it. But do they support innovating outside their home turf?

It all starts with an entrepreneur identifying an opportunity to create value. Intellectual property rights define ownership of this value. The bigger the market, the more value is created, so more innovations will emerge in bigger markets.

Action required: Standardize and better enforce intellectual property rights across countries, creating bigger markets for innovations.

Innovations require balancing many forces. Some of them are within the control of the entrepreneur — like product performance. Some of them require trade-offs between the benefits of innovation and the risks to society. Think of cars. Although they kill thousands every year, many people drive to work every morning. But not all countries see risks in the same way. Compare the risk-benefit assessment of nuclear power in France vs. Germany.

Action required: Shape discussions assessing benefits vs. risks with the objective of bringing more innovations to the market.

In the political world, the whole world, innovation is often an orphan. Rarely can politicians show ownership for innovation on a global level in the way they can feel responsible for national research. Policies across borders often focus on risk reduction and thus favor the status quo. But innovation must venture into uncharted territory. Politicians – are you reading this? – you must accept a leadership role to help the world become more innovative. Yes, you can!