Biological Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2025
Summary
The Biological Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2025 aims to restrict the export of United States intellectual property and sensitive information related to synthetic biology to foreign entities of concern, particularly those associated with the People's Republic of China. The bill amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to require licenses for the export, re-export, or in-country transfer of digital sequences of synthetic DNA or RNA designed by humans or AI systems to these entities. This legislation responds to concerns about intellectual property theft and national security risks.
Expected Effects
The Act will likely increase regulatory burdens on companies involved in synthetic biology research and development. It will also require increased scrutiny of international collaborations and exports in this field. The intended effect is to protect US intellectual property and prevent its use by foreign adversaries.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced protection of US intellectual property in synthetic biology.
- Reduced risk of sensitive information falling into the hands of foreign adversaries.
- Strengthened national security by limiting access to advanced technologies.
- Potential for increased investment in US-based synthetic biology research and development.
- Addresses concerns about military-civil fusion strategies employed by foreign governments.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased compliance costs for US companies involved in synthetic biology.
- Potential for hindering international collaborations and scientific progress.
- Risk of retaliatory measures from foreign countries.
- Possible delays in the export of synthetic biology products and technologies.
- May create barriers to entry for smaller companies in the synthetic biology sector.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the constitutional mandate to provide for the common defense (Preamble). Congress has the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3), which supports the export control measures outlined in the bill. The bill does not appear to infringe on individual liberties or rights explicitly protected by the Constitution or its amendments.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).