Washington
We can’t let Washington undermine NJ’s economic engine: intellectual property | Opinion
3-minute read
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.
Crews are on the scene of a serious crash on I-95 South in Stafford, Virginia.
Virginia State Police confirmed the crash was fatal but has not yet confirmed how many fatalities there were.
All southbound lanes are closed at mile marker 146.
Traffic is being diverted to Route 1 at exit 148.
This is a developing story. Stay with News4 and nbcwashington.com for updates.
Washington
Sounders FC, Starbucks and Washington Youth Soccer launch Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass to celebrate the next generation of soccer across the Evergreen State | Seattle Sounders
RENTON, WASH. – Sounders FC, in partnership with Starbucks and Washington Youth Soccer, today announced the launch of the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass, a first-of-its-kind statewide initiative designed to inspire the next generation of young athletes across the Evergreen State. As the sport reaches a defining moment across North America, the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass invites every registered Washington Youth Soccer athlete aged 18 and under to receive a complimentary ticket to select home matches this season, connecting young players and their families across Washington to the heart of Sounders FC matchdays and Pacific Northwest soccer culture.
More than a ticket initiative, the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass is rooted in a shared belief that soccer belongs to everyone who plays it. With over 90,000 registered Washington Youth Soccer athletes eligible for the program – which includes access to additional discounted tickets for friends and family members – the Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass celebrates those that continue to shape the sport’s strong foundation across the state. Coming at a significant moment for soccer in the region, with Seattle hosting six matches during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ this summer, Sounders FC and its partners are joining together to invest in the players, families, clubs and communities that fuel the game year-round.
“The Washington Youth Soccer Match Pass is about recognizing that every young player across Washington is already part of the story of this club,” said Sounders FC President of Business Operations Hugh Weber. “The Sounders are not just Seattle’s club – it’s Washington’s soccer club. Many of the players who wear our crest today, including Jordan Morris, Paul Rothrock and Jackson Ragen, grew up playing in Washington Youth Soccer. Their journeys are proof that the connection between local soccer communities and Sounders FC is real, lasting and deeply rooted.”
The program is available for the Rave Green’s final 12 MLS regular-season and Leagues Cup home matches of the 2026 campaign, beginning with Seattle’s first contest after the 2026 FIFA World Cup break against archrival Portland Timbers on Thursday, July 16 (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FS1, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM). Eligible Washington Youth Soccer athletes can access the offer through a **dedicated online portal** using their WYS Player ID.
With Seattle as its hometown, Starbucks is deeply rooted in communities across Washington and beyond. Starbucks serves as the initiative’s founding partner to make professional soccer more accessible for families throughout the season. A longtime Sounders FC partner, Starbucks joins the club in its commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for youth athletes and their families across Washington, reinforcing shared values of community, connection and access to the game.
“We are proud to partner with Sounders FC and Washington Youth Soccer to expand our support for youth soccer across our hometown of Seattle and communities across Washington,” said Starbucks Senior Vice President of Global Marketing Erin Silvoy. “At Starbucks, we believe sports are a powerful force for connection, that brings people together through shared rituals and moments of joy. By helping more youth experience soccer first-hand, we hope to inspire the next generation while supporting the athletes, coaches and families who make our communities stronger.”
Founded in 1961, Washington Youth Soccer is one of the region’s leading youth sports organizations, helping shape generations of players and families through recreational and competitive opportunities across the state for more than 60 years. Affiliated with U.S. Youth Soccer, U.S. Soccer and FIFA, Washington Youth Soccer works alongside nearly 200 member clubs and local associations to help grow and strengthen the game at every level, creating accessible pathways and enriching experiences for youth athletes and their families throughout Washington.
”We see this partnership as a catalyst to inspire the next generation of youth soccer players,” said Washington Youth Soccer Executive Director Roger Levesque. “There is something unique about attending a Sounders match at Lumen Field – the sights, sounds and world-class soccer all contribute to a goose bump-inducing experience. But the true inspiration comes from living the highs and lows of a match together, alongside family, friends and thousands of fans, who for 90 minutes, are all on the same team. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Sounders FC and Starbucks to bring this experience and the joy of soccer to the Washington Youth Soccer community.”
MLS is currently amid an extended break from play for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, with Seattle returning to action on Thursday, July 16 against the Portland Timbers on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM).
ABOUT SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC
Born in 1974 and a member of Major League Soccer since 2009, Seattle Sounders FC is one of North America’s leading professional soccer organizations. The club has captured nine major trophies since its inaugural MLS season, and following its Leagues Cup victory in 2025, Seattle became the first team in U.S. soccer history to win every major competition (Concacaf Champions Cup, MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, U.S. Open Cup, Leagues Cup). Since the club’s MLS debut, Sounders fans have set the standard for soccer support in North America, leading the league in attendance for eight-consecutive seasons (2009-2016), routinely ranking in the global top 30 among all professional clubs and never finishing outside of MLS’ top three.
Since 1971, Starbucks Coffee Company has been committed to responsibly sourcing and roasting hi-quality arabica coffee. Today, with a global footprint of more than 41,000 company-operated and licensed coffeehouses and a growing presence in consumer-packaged goods, we are the world’s premier purveyor of specialty coffee. Through our unwavering commitment to excellence and our guiding principles, we bring the unique Starbucks Experience to life for every customer through every cup. To share in the experience, please visit us in our stores or online at about.starbucks.com or www.starbucks.com.
ABOUT WASHINGTON YOUTH SOCCER
Washington Youth Soccer (WYS) is the largest youth sports organization in Washington State, serving more than 90,000 players through a network of over 200 member associations and clubs statewide. WYS is committed to fostering the physical, mental, and emotional growth of youth through the game of soccer by creating opportunities for players of all backgrounds and ability levels to learn, compete, and thrive. Through leagues, tournaments, player development programs, coaching education, community partnerships, and initiatives supported by the Washington Youth Soccer Foundation, WYS works to grow the game and create meaningful experiences for young athletes across Washington.
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