Tuberville, Britt graded on support for strong intellectual property laws

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville has landed a grade of B-plus and U.S. Sen. Katie Britt got a C for their effectiveness in working to advance intellectual property rights that promote American innovation. The grades were awarded by the Council for Innovation Promotion, an advocacy group that supports strong IP laws.

“Any member of Congress who is pro-innovation must support robust intellectual property rights,” said David Kappos, Co-Chair of the C4IP. “Innovation simply does not happen without the catalyzing effect of policies that safeguard creators’ IP.”

The Congressional Innovation Scorecard covers the 116th-118th Senate sessions analyzing lawmakers' bill sponsorship, co-sponsorship and advocacy efforts of intellectual property.

"IP-intensive industries make up almost half of the U.S. GDP and, in addition to that, approximately 90% of assets held by the Fortune 500 companies are intangible," said Andrei Iancu, C4IP co-chair. "Despite all of that, most of Congress pays no attention to these issues."

Iancu said Tuberville's support of S1834, the No Free TRIPS Act, helped raise his grading on the scorecard. Iancu said the bill is a "very positive, pro-intellectual property bill that opposes the efforts by the Biden administration to waive intellectual property rights for COVID-19 vaccines around the world."

"Compared to other legislators. He's been quite active in a positive way."

Britt's score is mainly a result of her short amount of time in Congress.

"We've only had one year of data for her," Iancu said, adding that Britt will have "lots of opportunities for her to distinguish herself" as C4IP "have to keep watching and see what she does." Britt's 'C' implies that she has neither major support nor opposition of any legislation relating to intellectual property during her time in the Senate.

"For these two senators, and frankly, any other member of Congress, if you are pro-innovation, you need to be pro-IP," Iancu said. "Anybody who wants to increase American innovation to increase American creative output needs to be pro-IP and make their positions known."

Victor Hagan is the Alabama Election Reporting Fellow for the USA TODAY Network. He can be reached at vhagan@gannett.com or on X @TheVictorHagan. To support his work, subscribe to the Advertiser.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Tuberville, Britt graded on support for intellectual property laws