To kick off the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Verizon president and CEO Ivan Seidenberg hosted a keynote discussion that focused on how advances in mobile technology, cloud computing, fiber optics and a range of other technologies have fueled "one of the most innovative eras in the history of technology."

Seidenberg also invited Jeff Bewkes, chairman and CEO of Time Warner; Dr. Sanjay Jha, co-CEO of Motorola and CEO of Motorola Mobility; and Mike Cleron, principal engineer of Google, to participate in the address.

But the Verizon chief executive also asserted that high-speed networks such as mobile 4G will be the most critical contribution to a more innovation-focused global economy.

"People are using technology to erase the boundaries between home and work, here and there, virtual and real," Seidenberg said. "The more we infuse consumer electronics with the power and intelligence of high-speed networks, the faster we'll create new demand and accelerate the cycle of innovation and growth that drives the industry forward."

This week's CES gathering comes two weeks after the Federal Communications Commission passed a set of regulations banning cable and network service providers such as Verizon from limiting consumers' access to sites in competition with providers - a controversial move that parties on both sides have argued may stifle innovation.

Regardless of the implications, many industry experts maintain that as the sector moves into 2011, comprehensive intellectual property management systems are needed to protect and maintain companies' innovations.