News

Last week the National Journal reported that President Obama is poised to name Phil Johnson as Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Former Acting Director of the USPTO and Commissioner for Patents says, “Phil is very knowledgeable, fair and willing to listen to opposing views.

This week we hear more about the positive effects of the Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters Act, or TROL Act. This bill is one step in the right direction towards smart patent reform.

With patent legislation reform off the table for the moment, there is now time to address the real problems with the proposed bill. It is our hope that Senate Judiciary Chairman Leahy’s decision to delay patent reform legislation serves as an opportunity to take a step back, and look at the unintended consequences of current propositions.

If it’s consistency you seek, the people and companies promoting patent reform have certainly delivered. They have an uncanny ability to identify the “bad guy” and play out that storyline whether it’s based in fact or not.

This week’s roundup includes articles from high profile news outlets such as Slate and Re/code, as well as a statement from a group of American inventors regarding Leahy's decision to delay patent legislation. Slate looks into the history of patent litigation and in response, applies the “Patent Troll” title to some of America’s most famous inventors including Thomas Edison and Charles Goodyear.

Big victory today as Senate Judiciary Chairman Leahy (D-VT) delayed patent legislation once again. As we have said in the past, we don't believe that this bill is being given the time and consideration it deserves.

Why is Congress considering patent reform legislation that will chill R&D investment, devalue patents and create an unfairly balanced environment for large infringers vs. small inventors? That was the theme on April 1, when Bloomberg Government held an in-depth panel discussion in Washington, DC about the potential overhaul of the patent system.

Save the Inventor will be hosting a tweet chat on April 28, 2014. We have serious concerns that some of the measures under consideration far exceed what is necessary to target abusive patent litigation.

More advocacy organizations and additional trade groups continue their lobbying effort approaching the proposed markup date, and previously unheard groups are finally speaking out. A group consisting of over 200 universities, startups and other companies sent a letter on Tuesday, 4/29 warning of the potential consequences that will result from changes that they say “go far beyond what is necessary or desirable to combat abusive patent litigation.

This week’s roundup contains a commentary piece from KyForward, Kentucky’s user generated news network, explaining the risk that patent reform will take power away from independent inventors, making them unable to enforce their IP. In the Star Tribune, an op-ed piece touches on how HR3309 was passed in a single hearing, without even one independent inventor there to testify, as well as the damaging effects the legislation could have on American inventors.