This past week saw the publication of competing visions about the importance of intellectual property protection to the economy.

At IPI’s IP Day event on April 26, NDP Consulting released The Impact of Innovation and the Role of Intellectual Property Rights on U.S. Productivity, Competitiveness, Jobs, Wages, and Exports (April 2010) (supported by the Global Intellectual Property Center).

ABI Research reports that their latest research shows that there has been significant growth in fixed broadband since 2008.

The IP Day (April 26) program put on by the Institute for Policy Innovation was a high-quality affair, with a series of entertaining and educational panels and speakers. One of the best was on Creative Development: Countries Building Creative Industries, with Victor Tieku (CEO, Kampsite Music – Ghana); Stephen Siwek (Principal, Economists, Inc.); and Mark [...]

Despite losing its case against Comcast before the DC Circuit Court of appeals, the FCC didn’t actually lose anything. In fact it had already gotten everything it wanted from Comcast and other ISPs they didn’t even name, and they continue have what they want today.

Clearwire’s CCO Mike Sievert has made some interesting comments in support of wireless Net Neutrality, but he seem to be contradicting some of the comments from Clearwire’s previous SEC filings, Clearwire’s current Terms of Service, and comments from Sprint.

In response to the FCC’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Preserving the Open Internet, Digital Society would ask the FCC consider the impact its rules may have on the information economy.

Platts has indicated that broadcasters are aiming to create a national mobile Television network for hand held devices. The broadcasters involved are members of the Open Mobile Video Coalition and intend to use broadband spectrum to stream video content to mobile devices.

[The explanation of the title Firehose is here.] Content & Copyright Microsoft on the Issues, Celebrating World Intellectual Property Day (April 26): “The choice has never been between IP and freedom or between IP and openness. While IP certainly isn’t a panacea, at least it enables relative openness and sharing by creating incentives for the [...]

The FCC claims that an Ofcom report showed that broadband only operated at 57% of advertised speeds (though not necessarily the fault of the broadband provider). But an Ofcom 2007 report says that U.S. broadband performance is 94.8% of advertised so it gets confusing.

Assemblyman Brian Kolb of the New York Assembly submitted AB 2837 in January of 2009. The bill failed to advance and has been referred to the Assembly Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee which has set a hearing for April 27th on the bill.