Updated 8/2
Companies involved in open-source code, crowdsourcing, and fair use of intellectual property on Thursday delivered a strong message to U.S. lawmakers reviewing IP laws: Don't forget about our businesses.
Leaders from crowdfunding website Indiegogo Inc., nonprofit software developer Beneficent Technology Inc., manufacturer SparkFun Electronics Inc., television monitoring company SnapStream Media Inc., and cloud-computing company Rackspace Inc. detailed their IP desires to members of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet. The hearing followed the panel's discussion last week with music, movie, and photo industry representatives about the economic benefits of strong copyrights.
The panelists said any IP reform that Congress considers should protect business models based on open sourcing and fair use. Through crowdsourcing and other methods, companies and individuals can make money without formally patenting or copyrighting their creations, they said.
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