Political Platforms and Innovation

The Republican Party

Stance on Innovation

Reince Priebus, the chief of staff under Donald Trump and former Republican National Committee Chairman, supervised the documentation of the party's platform. Innovation and "intellectual property" are cited as being specifically protected by the Constitution of the United States. The Republican party's perspective protects entrepreneurs.

The Fifth Amendment:
Intellectual Property Rights
Private property includes not only physical
property such as lands and homes, but also
intellectual property like books and patents. Article
1, section 8 of the Constitution gives Congress the
power to safeguard intellectual property rights
for “Authors and Inventors.” By protecting the
proprietary rights of creators and innovators, the
Constitution promotes the general welfare by
providing incentives for investment in all sorts of
technology and artistic works. Intellectual property
is a driving force in today’s global economy of
constant innovation. It is the wellspring of American
economic growth and job creation. With the rise
of the digital economy, it has become even more
critical that we protect intellectual property rights
and preserve freedom of contract rather than
create regulatory barriers to creativity, growth, and
innovation.
Protecting intellectual property is also a
national security issue. We must guard against
counterfeit parts that can compromise the
reliability of our weapons systems and the safety 
of military personnel. Today, the worst offenses
against intellectual property rights come from
abroad, especially in China. We call for strong
action by Congress and a new Republican president
to enforce intellectual property laws against all
infringers, whether foreign or domestic. 

The full Republican Party Platform can be found here: https://prod-cdn-static.gop.com/media/documents/DRAFT_12_FINAL[1]-ben_1468872234.pdf