14 DAY TRIAL // During the first half of the year, Apple has been lobbying the federal government on laws designed to improve the US patent system as well as bills to increase technology education funding and tax breaks for research and development costs. Although these issues are of importance to the company, the amount spent has been relatively meager.
During the first half of 2007, Apple spent $720,000 on lobbying the federal government. The company lobbied Congress on legislation designed to update the U.S. patent system. High-tech companies, including Apple, are in favor of legislation that would help eliminate bad patents by allowing companies to re-evaluate them after they have been granted. This would not only help companies by avoiding the financial burden of defending patents in lengthy court cases or of facing action on behalf of holders of loosely-worded or badly granted patents. Apple is considered one of the most innovative companies and makes heavy use of patents. In the last month alone Apple filed several prominent patents, including one for a movable touchscreen interface, another for retractable notebook ports and yet another for ambient iPod/iPhone recording. The company is also a magnet for lawsuits due to its highly successful products and often has to defend against all kinds of frivolous lawsuits.
The bills that would increase technology education funding and provide tax breaks for research and development costs, would have less of an impact on the company but would still be beneficial. Considering the size of Apple, even if the company were to spend twice as much in the second half of the year, the amount spent on lobbying would still be quite small. Apple was required to reveal its lobbying activities under a 1996 statute, and its lobbying expense was disclosed in a form filed Aug. 14 with the Senate's public records office.