Why It Matters
IBM Corp. is lobbying on technology policy, domestic and international tax, international trade, and copyright and patent issues as Congress considers legislation affecting artificial intelligence, quantum computing and digital trade.
Two of its six in-house lobbyists have direct congressional committee experience: Greg Proseus, the company's global competition policy lead, previously served on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, while Elle Collins, global tax policy leader, previously worked on the House Ways and Means Committee, Senate Finance Committee and Senate Special Committee on Aging.
The Senate referred the Digital Trade Promotion Act to the Senate Finance Committee, while the House referred the Quantum Encryption Readiness and Resilience Act to the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. Both measures address policy areas that could affect IBM's international operations and technology business.
By the Numbers
IBM's in-house third-quarter lobbying report, signed Oct. 20, disclosed $390,000 in expenditures, down $250,000 (39.1%) from the $640,000 reported in the second quarter. The figure was also down $370,000, or 48.7%, from the $760,000 reported in the third quarter of 2025. Combined with its outside lobbying firms, IBM's third-quarter reported lobbying totaled $660,000.
The five outside firms reported:
- Mehlman Consulting Inc.: $80,000 for computer industry issues.
- Washington Tax and Public Policy Group LLC: $50,000 for tax issues.
- Burton Kamins Advocacy: $50,000 for computer industry and trade issues.
- Platinum Advisors DC LLC: $50,000 for government issues, with a termination filing.
- Roosevelt Group: $40,000 for defense issues.
Platinum Advisors DC LLC filed a termination report for IBM this quarter, ending a lobbying relationship that began with a new-client registration earlier in the year.
The filing lists six in-house lobbyists, including Ryan Hagemann, vice president; Mason Molesky, national security policy executive; Michael DiPaula-Coyle, head of global policy; Proseus; Jeffrey Brown, global quantum policy lead; and Collins.
Broader Context
Copyright and AI training. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the CLEAR Act, S. 3813, on Feb. 10. Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, the legislation would require developers of generative AI models to disclose certain copyrighted works used in training to the Register of Copyrights.
The House referred the Training, Replication, and Artificial Intelligence Norms (TRAIN) Act, H.R. 7209, to the Judiciary Committee on Jan. 22. It would establish an administrative subpoena process to help copyright owners determine whether their works were used to train AI models.
A May 2025 U.S. Copyright Office report concluded that generative AI training is not categorically protected by fair use and identified potential market harms, including lost licensing opportunities. The report did not conclude that every use of copyrighted works in AI training constitutes infringement.
Quantum technology. Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) introduced the Quantum Encryption Readiness and Resilience Act, H.R. 4942, on Aug. 8, 2025. The measure was referred to the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, and the supplied research identifies no subsequent committee action.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Defense Quantum Acceleration Act, S. 1346, on April 8, 2025. The Senate Armed Services Committee received it, with no House companion identified in the supplied research.
Tax and digital trade. The Bipartisan Policy Center reported in October 2025 that earlier changes restored immediate expensing for domestic research and development costs, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025. The analysis also examined how the changes interact with the corporate alternative minimum tax.
Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) introduced the Digital Trade Promotion Act of 2025, S. 3399, on Dec. 9, 2025. The legislation would authorize the president to enter certain digital trade agreements. The supplied research identifies no House companion, and it was referred to the Senate Finance Committee.
The Bottom Line
IBM's in-house lobbying expenditures declined for three consecutive quarters, from $800,000 in the first quarter to $640,000 in the second and $390,000 in the third. Platinum Advisors DC LLC also terminated its lobbying registration. Meanwhile, legislation addressing AI training disclosures, quantum technology and digital trade remains under congressional consideration. Measures that do not become law before the 119th Congress ends will generally need to be reintroduced in the next Congress.
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