How will the IT industry help to create jobs and stimulate the economy?

Join Americans for Technology Leadership on Monday, July 12th from noon to 1:30 pm for a discussion of the role of information technology in economic recover.

WHAT:
Americans for Technology Leadership will host a luncheon panel discussion on the role that IT plays in our economic recovery. The event will feature data from recent independent studies and experts on small business and the IT industry. Jobs are the number one priority in this economy and the IT and communications industry is working hard to help create jobs. Panelists will discuss the role the IT industry plays in our economy.

WHO:

· Shahin Kohan, CEO, Focal Technology

· Karen Kerrigan, President, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council

· Dr. Joseph Fuhr, Senior Fellow, American Consumer Institute

WHEN: Monday, July 12th

TIME: Noon – 1:30pm

WHERE: Hotel Monaco, Paris Ballroom, 700 F St., NW, Washington, DC 20004

RSVP: rvsp at techleadership dot org

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The White House announced their Intellectual Property Enforcement Strategy this morning, showing leadership in the protection of Intellectual Property, which critical to the growth of our nation’s economy. A key aspect of the new enforcement strategy will include US monitoring of foreign websites to stop pirated content. In addition, the plan calls for an enhanced role for the Justice Department and the FBI to help crack down on piracy, which costs our economy billions of dollars each year.

Focusing on a specific IP enforcement strategy to help coordinate the protection of our Intellectual Property sends an important message to countries that have been lax in their enforcement of IP protections. It is critical that other countries understand our resolve on IP protection and that they take the steps necessary to enforce the laws already in place and protect the cycle of innovation, which brings great benefits to consumers. Additionally, these steps send a message to those who seek to steal valuable intellectual property – anywhere in the world – that we take enforcement seriously and that there will be consequences to breaking the law.

Vice President Biden is exactly right when he said that “This is theft. Clear and simple. It’s smash and grab, no different than a guy walking down Fifth Avenue and smashing the window at Tiffany’s and reaching in and grabbing what’s in the window.”

Intellectual property protection is critical to encouraging innovation and economic growth and the Administration should be applauded for giving IP protection such a high priority.

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With nearly two-thirds of internet users on the cloud privacy concerns are being voiced in a wide-range of spaces. Last Wednesday, Americans for Technology Leadership (ATL) brought together some of the top thought leaders to discuss the intersection of privacy and cloud computing.

ATL Executive Director, Randy Skoglund lead a discussion with Russ Fromkin, from Intel Federal; Michael Nelson, visiting professor of Internet Studies at Georgetown; and John Kropf, Deputy Chief Privacy Officer at the Department of Homeland Security on the wide-range of privacy issues surrounding cloud computing during Digital Capital Week in Washington, D.C.

Opening the discussion was Russ Fromkin who focused on how we got to cloud computing and the potential of the cloud. Fromkin underscored the intersection of privacy and cloud noting that “how you implement the cloud will change the way you have to worry about [privacy] policy.”

John Kropf enumerated the solid privacy principles including access, transparency, auditing and accountability which should be rooted in cloud computing. Kropf further outlined the government’s basic principles and agency best practices regarding cloud computing. As well, Kropf noted that privacy should not be an afterthought in the process and that he was pleased to see many of the chief privacy officers getting involved early on in the process.

In wrapping up discussion, Michael Nelson described cloud computing as important as the worldwide web was in the 1990s. Nelson also addressed the issue of jurisdiction, both internationally and as it relates to how the Electronic Communications Privacy Act is applied to the cloud.

As the trend of cloud computing moves forward and evolves over time, the question of how to ensure solid privacy principles are in place moves to the forefront.

What are some of your biggest concerns with privacy in the cloud? Share them in the comments below.

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