Government Providing Resources To Help Rising Fashion Tech Sector, Say Supporters
The Patent and Trademark Office has acted to help inventors and entrepreneurs, including those who merge fashion with technology within the wearable industry, said PTO Chief of Staff Vikrum Aiyer at a Fashion Innovation Alliance event Wednesday evening. Other speakers…
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included Reps. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., and Suzan DelBene, D-Wash. Aiyer said PTO created a multilateral forum with other countries to specifically focus on design patents and keep pace with new inventions, implemented a new fast-track program to get patent applications fully resolved within 12 months and is developing an intellectual property assessment tool to help people better understand their strategy. He said the Department of Commerce, DOD and the White House launched a national research and development hub for "advanced textiles and revolutionary fabrics" in April. He said such wearables are "going to be quite game changing for our entire economy." Fashion Innovation Alliance CEO Kenya Wiley said the social and economic value of fashion tech is "increasing rapidly. By the end of 2019, the wearables market will be worth $25 billion." She said companies and entrepreneurs need strong intellectual property protections and policies to guard their brands and protect their inventions. DelBene said that "there's incredible opportunity [in the IoT industry] as we think about devices that can provide us with important information, are connected, but also can look good and are stylish and really make a statement."