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We can’t let Washington undermine NJ’s economic engine: intellectual property | Opinion
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Phil Murphy on NJ leaders in A.I. during 2024 State of State Address
Governor Phil Murphy’ discusses leading the country in artificial intelligence at the 2024 State of the State Address.
New Jersey is building the technologies that will define the 21st century.
We’re a national leader in clean energy, with annual energy savings that surpass those of all but three other states. We’re developing breakthrough cures and treatments as the home of 13 of the nation’s 20 largest drug companies. And our new AI Hub, a collaboration between the New Jersey government and Princeton University, will soon put the Garden State at the forefront of U.S. artificial intelligence research.
Yet federal policymakers have cast a cloud over New Jersey’s bright future. For years, they’ve allowed foreign countries to erode the very foundation of our state’s economy: intellectual property, or IP, rights.
With a new administration and Congress in place, New Jersey’s representatives must take a stand in support of IP, before complacency in Washington tears down the dynamic economy we’ve worked so hard to build.
This is why NJ needs robust IP protections
IP rights are the cornerstone of technological progress. They give inventive companies the legal certainty that their ideas and breakthroughs won’t be stolen, which in turn allows them to bring investors on board. Without these protections, investors would be reluctant to commit the massive sums necessary to embark on risky, trailblazing projects.
New Jersey exemplifies the economic benefits that robust IP protections bring. Manufacturing, a field that relies heavily on patent rights, contributes over 10% of our state’s GDP. Other major sectors, like the life sciences, computer technology, and transportation, are similarly IP-intensive. In total, IP-dependent industries employ one in three New Jersey workers.
That’s why it’s so alarming that, in recent years, the federal government has been derelict in protecting Garden State companies’ IP from violations abroad.
Traditionally, federal policymakers have defended IP through something called the Special 301 Report. Issued annually by the U.S. Trade Representative, this report highlights global IP threats like piracy and patent theft, broadcasting to the rest of the world that America won’t tolerate violations of its citizens’ IP. The report also flags the economic impact of sectors that rely on IP.
But for the past four years, the Biden administration weakened the Special 301 Report, softening its stance on numerous common IP violations, omitting some entirely, and cutting out the economic impact of IP-intensive industries.
So more than ever, foreign countries have been emboldened to steal the fruits of New Jerseyans’ hard work and ingenuity.
Look no further than the COVID-19 pandemic. Strong patent protections empowered New Jersey firms like Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson to lead the way in vaccine development, saving millions of lives.
Yet soon afterward, despite no evidence that patents were limiting global vaccine distribution, USTR authorized countries around the world to ignore the patents on those vaccines.
In the years since, the Special 301 Report has erased all mention of the threat posed by such unilateral IP seizures, known as “compulsory licensing.” With America’s tacit approval, Colombia and the European Union are moving forward with more expansive compulsory licensing policies that threaten our state’s world-leading biopharma sector.
New Jersey companies cannot lose their ability to invest in innovation
If we don’t act soon to stop these efforts, New Jersey companies will lose much of their ability to invest in new treatments, stunting the medical progress that drives job growth here and saves lives around the globe. Bringing a new drug to market can cost upwards of $2 billion and take over a decade of research, with no guarantee of success. Undermining patent protections makes it harder for companies to justify these high-risk investments, especially in complex areas like oncology or rare diseases.
Those aren’t the only assaults on IP that USTR has permitted. Take drug price controls in Canada that undervalue innovative medicines. Or consider the restrictions on patenting imposed by countries like Argentina and India.
By limiting U.S. companies’ ability to protect their inventions and earn revenue abroad, these policies hamstring domestic research and development, leading to less investment and fewer jobs in New Jersey’s high-tech industries.
Past Special 301 Reports took strong stands to prevent foreign countries from undermining our economy with policies like these.
But for the last four years, USTR was silent, even as foreign IP infringement continued to mount.
New Jersey’s representatives in Congress must ensure this year’s report unequivocally condemns attacks on U.S. IP rights. Holding our trading partners accountable for violations will help safeguard our investments in medicine, renewable energy, and AI — ensuring the benefits stay with our workers and residents rather than flowing to foreign competitors.
New Jersey is leading America into the future. It’s time for Washington to do its part by backing our efforts with a strong Special 301 Report.
Sandip Shah, a visiting professor at Rutgers University, is founder and president of Market Access Solutions, which develops strategies to optimize patient access to life-changing therapies.
On a perfect day in Seattle for football, Washington took the field inside Husky Stadium for its first scrimmage of spring practice, and ahead of his third season at the helm, Jedd Fisch seemed pleased with the results.
“Guys played and competed their ass off,” he said after the Huskies ran 120 plays. “That’s the type of day we want to have…We have a lot to work on, but we’re excited that today gave us this opportunity.”
The 120 plays had a little bit of everything, but the biggest thing the Huskies showed during the day was that, despite the inexperience that Fisch’s coaching staff is looking to lean on at several positions, there’s plenty of talent littering the roster. The best example of that is sophomore safety Paul Mencke Jr., who had his best practice in a Husky uniform after Fisch announced on Saturday that senior CJ Christian is out for the year after suffering a torn Achilles tendon during Tuesday’s practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
“Paul’s done a great job of competing and being physical and playing fast, and you could see over these three years, he’s really grown into understanding now the system, and what’s asked of him as a safety,” Fisch said. “I think there’s a lot of in him that he wants to be like (safeties coach Taylor) Mays. He sees himself as a tall, linear, big hitter. So when you have your coach that is known for that type of play, I think Paul has done a great job.”
Mencke was all over the field. Not only did he lay some big hits, just like his safeties coach did during his time at USC, but the former four-star recruit also tallied a pair of pass breakups, an interception in a 7-on-7 period, and multiple strong tackles to hold ball carriers to limited yards.
While the defense did a good job getting pressure throughout the day and making the quarterbacks hold the ball with different looks on the back end, with safety Alex McLaughlin, linebacker Donovan Robinson, and edge rusher Logan George all among the players credited for a sack, quarterback Demond Williams Jr. got an opportunity to show off how he’s improved ahead of his junior year.
Early on, he showed off his well-known speed and athleticism, making the correct decision on a read option, pulling the ball and scampering for a 25-yard gain before displaying his touch. Throughout the day, his favorite target was junior receiver Rashid Williams, whom he found on several layered throws of 15-plus yards in the various scrimmage periods of practice.
On a day when every able-bodied member of the team was able to get several reps of live action, here are some of the other noteworthy plays from the day.
Spring practice notebook
- Freshman cornerback Jeron Jones was unable to participate in the scrimmage and was spotted working off to the side with the rest of the players rehabbing their injuries.
- The running backs delivered a pair of big blows on the day. First, cornerback Emmanuel Karnley was on the receiving end of a big hit from redshirt freshman Quaid Carr before the former three-star recruit ripped off a 13-yard touchdown run on the next play. Later on, every player on offense had a lot of fun cheering on freshman Ansu Sanoe after he leveled Zaydrius Rainey-Sale, letting the sophomore linebacker hear all about it when the play was whistled dead.
- Sophomore wide receiver Justice Williams put together a strong day with several contested catches, showing off his strong hands and 6-foot-4 frame, including a 25-yard catch and run off a drag route from backup quarterback Elijah Brown.
- Of all the tackles for a loss the Huskies were able to rack up throughout the day, two stood out. First, junior defensive tackle Elinneus Davis burst through the middle of the line to wrap up freshman running back Brian Bonner. Later on, freshman outside linebacker Ramzak Fruean wasn’t even touched as he shot through a gap in the offensive line to track down a play from behind, letting the entire offensive sideline know about the play on his way back to his own bench.
- The Huskies experimented with several defensive line combinations on Saturday, and for the first time this spring, it felt like freshman Derek Colman-Brusa took the majority of his reps alongside someone other than Davis, who he said has taken on an older brother role to help mentor the top-ranked in-state prospect in the 2026 class.
“Elinneus is a phenomenal guy. Great work ethic. He’s kind of taken on that older brother mentor for me. He’s been a great help just to learn plays and learn the scheme. Can’t say enough good things about the guy.”
- Ball State transfer Darin Conley took a handful of reps with the first team, while rotating with Colman-Brusa, who got a lot of work in alongside Sacramento State transfer DeSean Watts.
Twenty Sioux Falls School District art teachers have their own original pieces on display at the Washington Pavilion’s University Gallery now through May 31.
The “Teachers as Artists” exhibit showcases their work not just as educators, but as artists inside and outside of the classroom, and highlights how art education builds critical thinking, creative problem-solving and self-expression skills.
Edison Middle School art teacher Meagan Turbak-Fogarty said she dreamt of such a showcase since her first year teaching.
She and Kathy Dang, an art teacher at Marcella LeBeau Elementary School who also serves on the city’s Visual Arts Committee, partnered with the city and Washington Pavilion to bring the showcase to life.
Turbak-Fogarty has taught at Edison for five years and said her passion for art is “instantly felt” on her classroom walls, but that students have asked where they could see her art in the classroom, or what kind of art she creates in her own time.
“I always felt the feeling that I stand in front of all these kids every single day and preach about how much I love art, and how art has changed my life,” Turbak-Fogarty said. “That got me thinking, ‘I want to show them.’”
Some of her works on display at the Pavilion include art she created in her first year teaching, including a large Cheetos bag she created as an example for her eighth grade classroom when they were working on a large chip bag project. Turbak-Fogarty said she loves painting, working with acrylics and unconventional materials.
“I wanted to show my students that art can be anything,” she said. “It doesn’t have to be hanging up in a museum to be considered art.”
Continuing to do her own art while teaching the subject helps keep her inspired, Turbak-Fogarty explained, adding that it helps her push her own creativity when it comes to projects she works on with students.
Samantha Levisay, an art teacher at John Harris Elementary School, showed three pieces in the show — “Moments in Time,” “Midnight Butterfly Garden” and “Whimsy” — with the same mixed media, watercolor and printmaking skills that she teaches in different units at every elementary grade.
Levisay educates her students that “art is everywhere.” She said her favorite memories as an art teacher are “moments when I show students a lesson, and they take it even further.”
“Kids are so creative; I marvel at them all the time,” she said. “They inspire me every day with their endless creativity and imagination.”
Roosevelt High School art teacher Ruth Hillman showed two pieces in the show: “The Potato on the Wall,” a mixed media work, and a collection of her handmade clay charms in a shadow box.
She also wore some of her art — miniature potato earrings made of clay.
Hillman is in her third year at RHS. When she’s not teaching art, she’s also making art, and sells her charms at shows like the Art Collective.
Washington High School art teacher Mollie Potter displayed a three-part painting series at the show that she said were inspired by her English language learner students’ stories, and how teachers help students “take flight,” as represented by balloons, parachutes and kites in her work.
Porter said she is often inspired by her students’ art in the classroom; for example, one former student was obsessed with swans, and Porter said she later created a painting inspired by one of the student’s stories about swans.
At an April 17 reception, Mayor Paul TenHaken emphasized the arts as an “important economic driver in the community,” and said the show honored educators “who are artists in and of themselves,” but who might not have had a chance to display their art outside the classroom before.
“This is a way for us to honor them and show their incredible work,” TenHaken said.
Full Episode:
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