Last week I attended the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Mackinac Policy Conference on Mackinac Island.  I also promised to blog about the various happenings.  Since others have long beaten me to the punch (and have done a far better job than I could), I’ll just provide this roundup of some of the better articles and blogs covering the event:

• Nathan Bomey covers technology, alternative energy, manufacturing and economic development for Michigan Business Review.  His coverage is “must read” for those interested in everything happening at the event.  In this article has a list of a few notable stories and blog posts from MBR.
• The Detroit Free Press and Crain’s Business Detroit both take a look …read more
  

A couple of weeks ago I talked about a recent Washington Post article about slow processing times at the Copyright Office.  The article can be found here and my post here.  The Copyright Office would like you to know they’re on the job:

Copyright Office Improves Processing Time and Service

A recent Washington Post article focused on the lengthy processing times the Copyright Office is experiencing in wake of its transition from a paper-based to an electronic processing environment. The Copyright Office is working diligently to improve processing times and service to the public in general. To clarify, current processing times by filing method are as follows:

• E-Service with Electronic Deposit:  5 months for …read more
  

I will be attending the Detroit Regional Chamber’s annual Mackinac Policy Conference this week.  Despite the fact that the economy is ensuring that this year’s event will be a little bit lighter on attendees, the event’s agenda is as robust as ever.  As time allows, I will try to post on all of the legal, tech, and startup-related happenings.

–Matt

CBS Radio Detroit has launched a new website and will present a conference this summer in an effort to link WWJ Newsradio 950, and the other Detroit CBS radio stations, with Michigan’s burgeoning film business.  The conference, the “Michigan Makes Movies Expo”, will be on Sunday, July 12th at the Rock Financial Showplace from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.  The event will, of course, include the typical “expo” area — with booths and information on the Michigan film industry — but will also include 35 different breakout sessions for people to choose from throughout the day.   The breakout sessions will be conducted by actors, producers, casting agents, and …read more

Anyone who’s tried to register a copyright in the last year or so knows how frustrating it can be waiting for your registration to be processed.  For years, the copyright office has been woefully under-funded and under-staffed.  It’s a government office that should be at the forefront of technological innovation but, as a recent Washington Post article explains, is sadly overcome by “a growing mountain of paper applications” causing a “serious logjam.”  From the article:

The problem has tripled the processing time for a copyright from six to 18 months, and delays are expected to get worse in coming months. The library’s inspector general has warned that the backlog threatens the integrity of the U.S. copyright system.

The article goes …read more