Weekly Patent News Highlights 7/3

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. He is certainly a well qualified candidate and in my view an excellent choice.”

From The Hill, Rep. Lee Terry has released a draft bill aimed at curbing threats from “patent trolls.” The bill would require companies sending “demand letters” to be more specific and transparent when threatening patent infringement lawsuits.

In an op-ed by Stephen Haber, he states, “patent reform activists have not provided any evidence that the current patent system or Patent Monetization Entities—PME's, the technical, non-pejorative term for a "patent troll"—have hindered innovation and entrepreneurship.” Although Senator Leahy’s “patent troll” bill has been delayed, the conversation about patent reform hasn’t stopped.

For more on the latest patent related news, click the links below:

GMU Center for the Protection of Intellectual Property: Tesla’s New Patent Policy: Long Live the Patent System! http://cpip.gmu.edu/2014/06/17/teslas-new-patent-policy-long-live-the-pa...

Wall Street Journal: The Myth Of the Wicked Patent Troll http://online.wsj.com/articles/stephen-haber-and-ross-levine-the-myth-of...

IP Watchdog: President Obama Poised to Nominate Phil Johnson PTO Director http://www.ipwatchdog.com/2014/07/01/president-obama-poised-to-nominate-...

The Hill: House Republican releases draft ‘demand letter’ bill http://thehill.com/policy/technology/211116-house-republican-releases-dr...

Forbes: No Name Calling In My Court: Judge Bans Use Of Term “Patent Troll” In Jury Trial http://www.forbes.com/sites/wlf/2014/06/30/no-name-calling-in-my-court-j...

Intellectual Asset Management: If not Johnson for the USPTO, then who? http://www.iam-magazine.com/blog/Detail.aspx?g=f50612dc-8deb-4562-b1af-7...