In Washington Meetings, High Tech CEOs Urge US Officials to Enact Patent Reform, Fight Cyber Crime, Promote Trade, and Boost Competitiveness
Chief executives of the world's top software companies are in Washington today, June 6th, for a series of meetings with senior US Government officials to promote their pro-innovation agenda.
The chief executives are in the nation's capital for the Business Software Alliance's 10th CEO Forum. In discussions with Cabinet officials, congressional leaders, and other top US policymakers, the CEOs are advocating policy priorities that are crucial to continued economic growth, innovation, and continued US competitiveness.
Chief executives participating in the BSA CEO Forum include:
* Bruce Chizen, Adobe
* Carl Bass, Autodesk
* David Krall, Avid
* Greg Bentley, Bentley Systems
* John Swainson, CA
* Dave DeWalt, McAfee
* Steve Ballmer, Microsoft
* Doug Shaw, Monotype Imaging
* Bill McDermott, SAP Americas
* John McEleney, SolidWorks
* John Chen, Sybase
* Robert Holleyman, BSA
The CEOs' top concerns include reforming the US patent system; establishing tougher penalties for cyber criminals; providing greater resources for cyber crime fighters; improving science, math, and engineering education; ensuring access to highly skilled workers from abroad; and extending the president's Trade Promotion Authority.
"In today's highly competitive, technology-driven global economy, the US Congress, and the administration must 'get it right' when it comes to technology policy issues,"Â says BSA CEO and President Robert Holleyman. "The CEOs' visit to Washington is designed to help policy makers understand the key issues and make smart choices that will unleash growth and innovation."Â
CEOs Deliver Letter Supporting Patent Reform
As their first order of business, the CEOs are delivering a letter to House and Senate leadership, signed by 23 industry executives, urging swift enactment of H.R. 1908/S. 1145, the Patent Reform Act of 2007.
The letter reads in part: "We are heartened by Congress' growing appreciation of the need to strengthen the competitive posture of our nation, and we believe this legislation is essential in helping the United States maintain its position as the world's leading technology innovator."Â
The letter is being presented personally by the CEOs to the top lawmakers in the Senate and House. The CEOs will meet with Senators Harry Reid (D-NV), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and other members of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Reps. John Conyers (D-MI), Howard Berman (D-CA), and other members of the House Judiciary Committee and Democratic Caucus; and Reps. Lamar Smith (R-TX), Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), and other members of the House Republican High Tech Working Group.
As part of its education and advocacy effort on patent reform, the BSA is also releasing a 12-page, magazine-style article entitled, "Patent Reform: The Verdict Is In,"Â which presents the views of BSA member companies on their challenges resulting from the existing patent system. The article is based on interviews with executives at Bentley Systems, Cadence Design Systems, IBM, Microsoft, SAP, and Symantec.
Trade, Workforce, and Cyber Security Issues Also on Agenda
As part of their visit to Washington, the CEOs are also meeting with Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez to discuss vital economic policy issues such as BSA's support for extension of the President's Trade Promotion Authority, enactment of pending trade agreements, constructive relations with China, and workforce-related issues.
The CEOs are expressing concerns that the current Senate immigration proposal - while admirable in many respects - contains provisions that would hinder competitiveness and US innovation. The CEOs support bipartisan efforts to modernize US immigration policy, but they are urging Congress to consider changes to the legislation that would improve the software industry's ability to retain and add new US jobs.
In a separate letter to congressional leaders, BSA's Holleyman notes that under the bill, the number of H-1B visas for company-sponsored applicants would be greatly reduced; and that the points-based system for evaluating immigrants would eliminate the crucial role of employers in recruiting and sponsoring well-qualified immigrants for permanent residence.
In the various meetings, the CEOs are also discussing cyber security, urging Congress to target specific activities of bad actors and not specific technologies. BSA and its members support H.R. 2290, the Cyber Security Enhancement Act of 2007, which would establish tougher criminal penalties against cyber crime and increase resources to law enforcement for research, training, and equipment. -Business Software Alliance
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