Biological Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2025
Summary
The Biological Intellectual Property Protection Act of 2025 aims to restrict the export of US intellectual property and sensitive information related to synthetic biology to foreign entities of concern, particularly those associated with the People's Republic of China. It mandates a license for exporting digital sequences of synthetic DNA or RNA designed by humans or AI to these entities. The bill amends the Export Control Reform Act of 2018 to include this new license requirement.
Expected Effects
This act will likely increase scrutiny and regulation of synthetic biology exports, potentially slowing down collaborations with certain foreign entities. US companies and research institutions will need to navigate new licensing procedures for exporting synthetic DNA and RNA sequences. This could impact international research collaborations and commercial activities in the biotechnology sector.
Potential Benefits
- Strengthens national security by limiting access to sensitive biological data by foreign adversaries.
- Protects US intellectual property in the rapidly growing field of synthetic biology.
- Incentivizes domestic innovation by reducing the risk of intellectual property theft.
- Addresses concerns about dual-use technologies that could be exploited for military purposes.
- Provides a framework for regulating the export of advanced biotechnologies.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- May hinder international scientific collaboration and slow down research progress.
- Could create bureaucratic hurdles for US companies, making them less competitive.
- Potential for retaliatory measures from foreign countries, impacting trade and research partnerships.
- The definition of "foreign entity of concern" may be overly broad, impacting legitimate collaborations.
- Increased compliance costs for companies involved in synthetic biology research and development.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill aligns with the Constitution's broad mandate to "provide for the common defence" (Preamble). Congress has the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3), which provides a basis for export controls. The act does not appear to infringe on individual liberties or rights, as it focuses on regulating commercial activity related to sensitive technologies.
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).