Intellectual property (IP) is perhaps the single-most significant resource and economic advantage of the U.S. semiconductor industry and U.S. leadership in the innovation economy. SEMI members annually spend up to 20 percent of their revenues – more than $20 billion in nominal terms – on research and development (R&D) to develop proprietary IP. Semiconductors enable innovation and growth in countless crucial industries including medical devices, IT solutions that allow for remote working, broadband connectivity, transportation infrastructure, IoT applications, and global digital trade. It is critical that any global agreements codify and enhance protections for U.S. technology patents and include enforcement mechanisms ensuring that companies can prohibit the elicit use of their IP and gain redress for any expropriations of their intellectual property.
IP Resources
- United States: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
- WTO Agreement on Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS)
- China: State Intellectual Property Office
- Europe: European Patent Office
- India: Office of the Controller-General of Patents, Designs and Trademarks
- Japan: Japan Patent Office
- Korea: Korea Intellectual Property Office
- Russia: Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks
- Taiwan: Taiwan Intellectual Property Office
- Singapore: Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
- World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO): Directory of Intellectual Property Offices