ACT - The App Association

❗It is crucial for SMEs to stay updated on the latest regulatory measures happening in the EU and UK.

📱 The latest changes include the recent approval of the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumer Act (DMCCA) by the UK parliament and the EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) which has already taken effect. Both Acts present significant impacts to SMEs.

💻 Learn more here: https://loom.ly/na66OTg

🔒 Small business innovators are essential to ensure data privacy, promote responsible data use, and secure personal information. As the House Committee on Energy and Commerce marks up the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA) later today, it's crucial to address the bill's shortcomings, especially its impact on small businesses.

📋 The draft APRA fails to protect small businesses from private right of action, leaving them vulnerable to crippling lawsuits. Without federal preemption, they face the burden of complying with a patchwork of state laws, which is often unmanageable.

🏢 APRA, like many recent laws, overlooks the needs of small businesses in the tech ecosystem. It fails to recognize that tech companies are NOT a monolith, and smaller tech firms need frameworks that are different from the ones aimed at Big Tech. We support a federal privacy bill that protects small businesses and supports their role in data privacy and innovation.

Learn more about what our members are asking for in a federal privacy bill here: https://loom.ly/OP-alf4

🌟Upcoming Webinar: Shaping the Future of Digital Competition 🌟

Join us as we explore the global impact of the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and its influence on digital platform regulation worldwide. The panel will discuss recent developments in digital competition regulation worldwide, focusing on Brazilian competition decisions and how they will impact the larger South American digital economy.

📆Date: July 5th, 2024
🕐Time: 8:15 am EST; 9:15am BRT
Key Highlights:
✅Insights into the DMA and its global implications.
✅Brazil’s potential regulatory path and its influence on the digital economy.
✅Panel discussions with leading experts on digital competition.
🎤Panelists: Bianca Mollicone, Legal Grounds Institute; Morgan Reed, ACT | The App Association; Mitchel Volkering, vaic.at; Rafael Rossini Parisi, GW Competition Lab.
📣Language: English (with live audio translation into Portuguese)

Join us, and don’t miss this chance to engage with thought leaders and understand the future of digital competition regulation. Register here: https://loom.ly/dGchKNo

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Digital Platforms Competition Regulation in Brazil. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Following the European Union’s adoption of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which seeks to impose restrictions on the largest digital platforms in an attempt to increase competition, jurisdictions around the world have begun considering whether to adopt a similar approach. In Brazil, both the legisl...

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and the workforce, understanding its ethical implications is crucial. Join us for a not-to-be-missed event: a fireside chat featuring Geno Miller, the visionary founder and CEO of Shtudy.

🔥 Event Highlights:
- Insightful Dialogue: Engage directly with Geno Miller, a trailblazer in AI and workforce development, as he shares valuable insights on ethically integrating AI into business practices.
- Interactive Q&A: Bring your questions and participate in a dynamic Q&A session. It’s your chance to delve deeper into the challenges and opportunities AI ethics present.
- Virtual Networking: Connect with peers and industry leaders who are at the forefront of navigating AI and ethics within the workforce.

🔗 Click here to register and secure your spot: https://loom.ly/LPYPseI

‘Regulatory measures, even when aimed at larger businesses, often impact SMEs. A balanced approach is crucial for fostering a competitive and inclusive digital economy.’

🚀 Open Letter to Professor Mario Draghi on the Future of European Competitiveness 🚀

We at ACT | The App Association have addressed an open letter to Mario Draghi, urging him to consider the unique challenges faced by SMEs in his upcoming report on EU competitiveness. Our letter emphasizes the importance of fostering innovation, supporting technological advancements, and creating a supportive regulatory environment for small businesses.

In particular, we highlight:
- The need for a clear regulatory framework that reduces bureaucratic hurdles for SMEs.
- Increased funding and support for emerging technologies.
- The expansion of digital infrastructure while safeguarding SMEs from inadvertent negative impacts.
- Recognizing privacy, cybersecurity, and disability access as key competition parameters.

Read the full letter to understand how we advocate for a more inclusive and dynamic digital economy for SMEs in tech.

🔗 https://loom.ly/IrQZvOU

“LGBTQIA+ people are roughly 20% less represented in STEM fields but are more likely to report negative workplace experiences.”

🌈 At ACT | The App Association, we believe in empowering the next generation of innovators. With a global shortage of software engineers, investing in diverse, inclusive STEM & STEAM education is crucial.

This Pride Month, we spotlight programs empowering LGBTQIA+ individuals in tech:
🌐 oSTEM - Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM) is a non-profit professional association for LGBTQIA+ people in the STEM community.
🖥️ TH.0 Pride Month - TH.0 is a peer-to-peer and business-to-business ecosystem that leads hackathons intending to support professionals, businesses, and startups.
📱 The LGBT Technology Institute - The LGBT Technology Institute is working to bridge the technology gap for all LGBTQIA+ individuals.
🏳️‍🌈 Encircle - Encircle, a Utah-based nonprofit, was founded in 2017 to help young LGBTQIA+ people and their families access programs, tools, and resources to thrive.

Join us in supporting diverse, inclusive education and workforce development - follow the link to learn more and donate: https://loom.ly/KpkZ3Hg

Is it Getting STEAM-Y in Here, or is it Just Our Future Workforce: Part 2 – LGBTQIA+ Inclusion – ACT | The App Association ACT | The App Association members are innovative small businesses and enterprises transforming how we live, work, and play through apps and connected technology. They’re leading the next generation of trailblazers working to solve problems and fill gaps across industries. For our members to contin...

“Imagine facing millions in fees just for outdated terms.”

🧹Spring cleaning isn’t just for your home. It’s time for app and software companies to refresh their Terms of Service (TOS). With tech evolving rapidly, an old TOS can expose your business to costly risks. Our blog provides guidance on updating TOS to protect against arbitration abuses and ensure compliance with new privacy laws like GDPR and CCPA. A little TOS update can save you from massive headaches down the road.

🔗Link here: https://loom.ly/bOfBsIM

"Staying ahead of regulatory changes is crucial for SMEs in the app economy."

🌐As the digital landscape evolves, understanding the DMA and DMCCA is essential for app developers and tech companies. The recently approved DMCCA and the enforced DMA promote fair competition and protect consumers, but they differ in reach, implementation, and provisions.

🆘 We're helping SMEs navigate these regulations to ensure they can continue to innovate and compete. Key points include targeting dominant platforms, prohibiting anti-competitive practices, and enforcing penalties for non-compliance. Learn more here: https://loom.ly/na66OTg

Regulatory Roadmap: Understanding the DMA and DMCCA for SMEs – ACT | The App Association As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it’s increasingly vital for app developers and tech companies to stay ahead of regulatory changes. The recent approval of the Digital Markets, Competition, and Consumer Act (DMCCA) by the United Kingdom (UK) Parliament just before heading into national...

“The CWA 95000 is an important instrument for SEP licensing and policymaking decisions in the standards ecosystem."

Decades of SEP licensing abuse have led a cross-section of technology standards participants, including ACT | The App Association, to draft the CEN/CENLEC 95000 Workshop Agreement (CWA 95000). This guide aims to establish a fair SEP licensing ecosystem and address the challenges of standardized innovation.

Why This Matters for SMEs:
✅Fair Access: Ensures smaller businesses are not disadvantaged by unfair licensing practices.
✅Transparency: Provides clear guidelines and best practices to help SMEs navigate the complex SEP landscape.
✅Support for Innovation: Helps protect SMEs from excessive costs and litigation, allowing them to focus on innovation.

📄 Learn more about CWA 95000 and its impact on fostering innovation and protecting consumer interests.

🔗 https://loom.ly/hxJMvTA

🍃 Moving towards a green future is becoming more real due to the merging of IoT and sustainable tech.

💡 Learn why its essential in this transition to standardize green tech and figure out the licensing for the essential patents that cover it.

💻 Read more here: https://loom.ly/n1FQW9Q

"There are security and copyright concerns, but also a lot of opportunity. It’s all about approaching AI with knowledge and caution."- Tatiana Botskina

Our recent panel at London Tech Week, "AI’s Patent Puzzle: Standards, Licensing, and the IoT Revolution," brought together industry leaders to discuss how SMEs in the app economy can navigate the complexities of AI and IoT.

Key Takeaways:
🌐Security and Copyright Concerns: Tatiana from Deriskly highlighted the need for SMEs to balance opportunity with caution when using AI for generative purposes and code generation.
🌐Transparency in Regulation: Jakob from the Tony Blair Institute emphasized that transparency-focused AI regulation can benefit SMEs, aiding in process optimization and prediction.
🌐Unique SME Applications: Chels from ACT pointed out that SMEs use AI in ways quite different from big companies, and regulations should reflect this to avoid stifling innovation.
🌐Importance of Standards Licensing: Stephen from ACT stressed that uncertainty is particularly harmful to SMEs. Smart regulation is needed to protect IP while fostering innovation.
🌐Intersection of IoT and AI: Will from Manulytica discussed how combining IoT and AI provides real-world data for better problem-solving, highlighting the need for interoperability and smart standards licensing.

This discussion underscored the need for updated regulations to ensure SMEs have fair access to standardized technologies, driving UK tech innovation forward. We’re excited to have shared the stage alongside member companies Manuyltica and Deriskly and to be joined by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change!

"IP protections, such as those on Apple’s App Store, are essential for small business owners. They safeguard our innovative ideas and hard work." - vaic.at Software

As the European Commission implements the Digital Markets Act (DMA), small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the app economy face new IP protection risks. Our members recently met with the Commission to express these concerns and highlight the need for maintaining robust IP safeguards.

Small businesses rely on the secure environment provided by established platforms to protect their intellectual property and continue innovating. The DMA's promotion of alternative app stores and sideloading could fragment this secure ecosystem, making SMEs vulnerable to IP theft and increasing compliance burdens.

We urge the European Commission to preserve strong IP protections and consider the SME perspective in its regulatory approach. Ensuring a unified and secure framework is crucial for fostering innovation and supporting small businesses.

🔗 https://loom.ly/OFF9wWw

Safeguarding Innovation: IP Concerns and the DMA – ACT | The App Association As the European Commission continues implementation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the app economy face new challenges and risks. Recently, members of ACT | The App Association met with the Commission to express deep concerns over potential intellectua...

"As small businesses in the app economy, ACT | The App Association’s members have a comparative advantage in agility over their larger counterparts. They are leading the way in developing, adapting, and deploying artificial intelligence tools across virtually all industries." - Morgan Reed, ACT | The App Assoication President

Ahead of today's House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology mark-up, The App Association proudly continues our support of the Expanding Partnerships for Innovation and Competitiveness (EPIC) Act. This critical legislation ensures that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has the resources necessary to continue its vital role in standards development.

We urge Congress to pass this bill and support the facilitation and advancement of technical standards development through a well-funded and effective NIST.

🔗Link to Morgan Reed's full statement here: https://loom.ly/OD-XlYk

"Reasonable tax rates, access to data, and the ability to raise capital are all necessary conditions for the creation and growth of small companies in the app economy."

🚀 Death by a Thousand Cuts: How State Privacy Laws, Digital Ad Taxes, and Acquisition Limits Impact Small Businesses🚀

Small businesses in the app economy are the backbone of innovation, driving the development of AI-driven tools of the future. However, they face significant challenges due to state privacy laws, digital ad taxes, and limits on mergers and acquisitions (M&A). These regulatory burdens increase barriers to entry and siphon resources away from product development toward compliance.

The Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) recent actions on M&A, aimed at addressing antitrust concerns, have made acquisitions a less viable path for small companies, especially in tech markets. Similarly, the patchwork of state privacy laws—18 enacted and over 250 proposed—poses a significant barrier to investment and entry for innovators.

Furthermore, state-level digital ad taxes, like California's Digital Advertising Services Tax bill, add to the compliance nightmare and even create new privacy risks.

Policymakers need to understand the cumulative impact of these regulations on small businesses. We advocate for a federal privacy law with strong preemption provisions to create a more certain legal landscape, alongside a restrained approach to M&A and digital ad taxes.

🔗 https://loom.ly/8_Cvw_0

🚨Event Alert🚨 AI Workforce Ethics: Balancing Innovative Solutions and Responsibility

As artificial intelligence reshapes industries and the workforce, understanding its ethical implications is crucial. Join us for a not-to-be-missed event: a fireside chat featuring Geno Miller, the visionary founder and CEO of Shtudy.

🔥 Event Highlights:
- Insightful Dialogue: Engage directly with Geno Miller, a trailblazer in AI and workforce development, as he shares valuable insights on ethically integrating AI into business practices.
- Interactive Q&A: Bring your questions and participate in a dynamic Q&A session. It’s your chance to delve deeper into the challenges and opportunities AI ethics present.
- Virtual Networking: Connect with peers and industry leaders who are at the forefront of navigating AI and ethics within the workforce.

🔗 Click here to register and secure your spot: https://loom.ly/LPYPseI

✈️ A few weeks ago, over 50 members of ACT | The App Association came to DC to voice their concerns about top policy issues. Among the issues, members highlighted the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent actions to hinder mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

🖥️ Our latest blog outlines how the FTC's proposed updates to the pre-merger filing requirements under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act significantly increase legal burdens, which poses challenges for small businesses. The App Association applauds the House Small Business Committee's report scrutinizing federal agency adherence to the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), highlighting the need for greater accountability and consideration of small business impacts in federal rule-making.

Read more here ⬇️
https://loom.ly/YVlz6Ec

Checking in on the Box Checkers: House Committee Reports on Regulation’s Effect on Small Biz – ACT | The App Association A couple of weeks ago, more than 50 ACT | The App Association members traveled to DC to share their perspectives on the top policy issues on their minds today. At the top of that list? The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC’s) recent actions to eliminate mergers and acquisitions (M&A). More broadly...

🏳️‍🌈 In honor of Pride Month, we are highlighting LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the workforce.

💡 Learn about the current problems in workforce inclusion, and some of the possible equitable workforce solutions for the LGBTQIA+ community.

📚 Read more here: https://loom.ly/KpkZ3Hg

🌱📱 Navigating the future isn't just about innovation; it's about creating a sustainable world for all, especially for small tech businesses striving to make a big impact. Dive into the latest blog in our "Decoding SEP Licensing" series to explore the transformative power of IoT and the critical role of fair SEP licensing. 🌍💼

https://loom.ly/n1FQW9Q

Decoding SEP Licensing: IoT and the Future of Sustainable Technology Imagine a world that is not only smarter but greener—where rural and urban landscapes alike are seamlessly integrated with technology to optimise energy consumption, reduce carbon footprints, and enhance residents' quality of life. This vision of a green, tech-driven smart world is becoming a real...

🌍✈️ The app economy is everywhere, and so is ACT | The App Association's membership team! 🚀 Join us around the globe in June as we dive into new tech, connect with peers, and discuss the future of the app economy. Don't miss out—details & RSVP links below! 🎉 https://loom.ly/RZ92dc4

Where in the World is ACT | The App Association?   The app economy is global, and so are we! Throughout June, ACT | The App Association’s membership team will be back on the road hosting events worldwide. Learn more about where we’re going and what we’re doing below, and make sure to RSVP or reach out if we’re coming to a city near you. J...

🌐 Introducing our latest guide: "Decoding SEP Licensing for the IoT and AI Revolutions." Dive into our newest resource to master the key terms you need to know for navigating the SEP licensing landscape as IoT and AI evolve. 📖🔍

🔗Link here for the full glossary of terms and concepts: https://loom.ly/ZAqntL8

"M&A is crucial for technology innovation, helping entrepreneurs generate returns and reinvest in new startups. Without it, the cycle of innovation and small business growth would be impossible." – BadVR

🚀 Event Recap: AppCon 2024 was a huge success! For the first time in five years, ACT | The App Association brought together over 50 members from 41 companies in DC for policy education and advocacy. From AI to privacy, our members took to Capitol Hill to share their stories and push for meaningful change. Check out the highlights and learn how they're shaping the future of the app economy ⬇️ https://loom.ly/XrlLPCU