Mines VP testifies before Congress on U.S. intellectual property, global leadership
Walter G. Copan, vice president for research and technology transfer, testified before a U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee on the role of specialized patents in the U.S.'s strategic competition with China.
Washington, D.C. — Walter G. Copan, vice president for research and technology transfer, testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet on Wednesday, Dec. 18. The hearing, titled “IP and Strategic Competition with China: Part IV – Patents, Standards, and Lawfare,” examined the critical role of specialized patents in the United States' strategic competition with China.
Copan is a former director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and a leading expert in Intellectual Property (IP), technology transfer and innovation policy. His testimony emphasized the importance of strong IP protections—particularly for core technologies essential for international industry standards—in supporting U.S. innovation and fair competition in global markets.
“The U.S. leads the world in key standards and, consequently, is a net exporter of innovation,” Copan testified. “Reliable IP rights licensed to development and manufacturing partners enable trusted global supply chains and value creation for consumers and shareholders alike.”
Copan also raised concerns about regulatory frameworks, competition law and other legal practices in both China and the European Union, which he argued undermine fair and transparent intellectual property commerce and business transactions for U.S. innovators in global markets. He called for the U.S. to strengthen its intellectual property and innovation frameworks to remain competitive in this global landscape.
“The United States is at a crucial juncture regarding the future of American innovation leadership, and our economic and national security are closely tied to the reliability and protections provided by our IP and innovation systems,” Copan testified. “The U.S. must once again lead the world by example, through the development of intellectual property rights policies that support innovation at home and across jurisdictions.”
Watch the full hearing: https://judiciary.house.gov/committee-activity/hearings/ip-and-strategic-competition-china-part-iv-patents-standards-and-0
About Mines
Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and innovations to serve industry and benefit society – all to create a more prosperous future.
