Government Relations News
Potential Changes in Deductibility of Advertising Expenses within Tax Reform Legislation Would Only Serve to Stifle Economic Activity
Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), Chairman of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, today released his discussion draft of tax reform legislation that includes a provision that will, if enacted, severely impact the economy and lead to significant job loss. This provision would allow advertisers to deduct only 50 percent of all advertising expenses in the first year and amortize the remaining 50 percent over the next five years.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus Releases First Tax Reform Draft Proposal
Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) of the Senate Finance Committee has released the first of several forthcoming draft proposals for tax reform.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy Introduces Bipartisan Patent Troll Legislation
On Monday, November 18th, Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-VT) of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), introduced the Patent Transparency and Improvements Act of 2013.
“Do Not Track Kids Act of 2013” Introduced in Congress
Two powerful members of Congress have introduced legislation that would impose new restrictions on the collection of personal information from teenagers in the online environment.
Senator Rockefeller Introduces the Consumer Choice in Online Video Act
On November 12th, Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) of the Senate Commerce Committee introduced S.1680, the Consumer Choice in Online Video Act.
Terrell McSweeny Nomination Advanced to Full Senate
On Tuesday, November 12th, the Senate Commerce Committee advanced the nomination of FTC Nominee Terrell McSweeny to the full Senate.
Ad Tax Deduction Under Major Threat in Draft Tax Reform Bill
The tax deduction for advertising expenses is under serious threat in the United States Congress.
Senate Commerce Committee Holds Productive Hearing on Patent Troll Demand Letters
This morning, the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance held a hearing on demand letters sent by patent trolls.
ANA Calls for “Patent Troll” Demand Letters to Be Legislatively Addressed
ANA, along with 20 other trade associations representing a wide swath of industries, has sent a letter to members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees asking them to address demand letters as a part of their legislative efforts to curb patent trolling.
ICANN to Host Two Webinars This Week on RPMs and Auctions for New Top Level Domains
ICANN will host two webinars this week on new Top Level Domains.
Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) Releases Anti-Patent Troll Bill
The legislative attack on patent trolls continued today, as Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced an anti-patent troll bill, the Patent Litigation Integrity Act.
Chairman Bob Goodlatte Introduces New Anti-Patent Trolling Bill
Last Wednesday, House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) introduced his long awaited bipartisan bill, the Innovation Act, designed to curb the growing threat from patent assertion entities (PAEs), also called patent trolls.
Congressional Judiciary Committees’ Republican Members Call for Clarification of FTC Section 5 Authority
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-IA), along with a number of other Republican members of both committees sent a letter to FTC Chairman Edith Ramirez on Wednesday, October 23rd in regard to Section 5 of the FTC Act.
Ad Tax Threat Growing in House Ways & Means Committee
We have learned that there is a strong likelihood that Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-MI) will include some restriction on advertising deductibility in his initial draft of a tax reform bill.
ANA Files Reply Comments on ICANN's Proposal to Mitigate Name Collision Risks
On September 16, ANA filed reply comments in regard to ICANN’s recent Proposal to Mitigate Name Collision Risks, reiterating our call for ICANN to extend the time period for analysis of this potential problem.
ANA Files Comments with ICANN on Domain Name Clash Issue
ANA has filed comments with ICANN asking for more time for our member companies to evaluate the risks posed by clashes between new gTLDs and internal corporate domains.
DAA Releases Guidelines for Self-Regulatory Principles in Mobile Media
The Digital Advertising Alliance (DAA), of which ANA is a founding member, released guidelines today for expanding its self-regulatory program of consumer choice to the mobile environment.
Another Patent Troll Bill Introduced
On July 22, 2013, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA, 49) and Representative Judy Chu (D-CA, 27) introduced the “Stopping Offensive Use of Patents Act,” H.R. 2766.
ANA Signs Letter to Congressional Leadership Encouraging Patent Reform
On Wednesday, July 17th, ANA, along with more than 50 other organizations sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urging reform of the patent system to combat the growing problem of many patent assertion entities, also called “patent trolls.”
New Patent Troll Legislation Introduced
Following on the heels of a number of other bills, a pending inquiry by the FTC, and an Executive Order from the President, Representative Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY, 8) and Representative Blake Farenthold (R-TX, 27) introduced H.R. 2639, the “Patent Litigation and Innovation Act of 2013,” last week.
