The U. S.

The Innovation Alliance, a coalition of R&D-based technology companies, supports measures to improve patent quality and curb excessive litigation costs for all users of the patent system. Certain reform proposals recently circulated by the White House and in Congress, however, would unfairly diminish the value and enforceability of patents.

Several Members of Congress propose stay provisions as part of patent litigation legislation. These stay proposals direct courts to stay judicial proceedings against vendors, manufacturers, and end-users of a product when a retailer or manufacturer farther “upstream” in the distribution chain of the product or component that is covered by the patent is a party in the infringement suit.