U.S. President Barack Obama's recently announced 2012 budget calls for a reduction in spending in many areas. At this time of fiscal caution, however, the president announced increased government investment in intellectual property enforcement.

Document management company Xerox recently announced it is investing greater resources in its intellectual property portfolio.

Following the emphasis on American innovation in President Obama's recent State of the Union address, the White House recently published a report defining the administration's plans in a number of areas, including reform of the U.S. patent system.

The international community needs to adopt robust intellectual property protection measures to ensure the profitability of innovation in the future, according to Thomas Pattloch, IP officer for the European Union delegation in Beijing,

In a recent IT World Canada report, Sensis CIO Tom Uva suggested companies with unique products should protect their intellectual property to maximize profitability.

U.S. commerce secretary Gary Locke recently announced the names of several new appointees to the Patent Public Advisory Committee and the Trademark Public Advisory Committee.

A committee of the European Parliament recently approved plans that may bring Europe one step closer to a unified patent system.

The Biotechnology Industry Organization recently praised the introduction of legislation designed to reform the U.S. patent system dramatically.

Three major international organizations recently announced the second in a series of symposia on medical patents.

Doug Norman, president of the Intellectual Property Owners Association, recently called for the government to invest greater resources in intellectual property.