Every congress for the last six years has seen one or more bills introduced to address patent “reform.” The new 112th Congress is no exception. Senators Leahy (D), Hatch (R), and Grassly (R) have introduced yet another patent reform bill. The bill takes up where the 111th Congress left off.
In the past, patent reform generally has been supported by companies that are frequent defendants in patent infringement litigation and by those who believe that a patent gives the patent owner too much power. Patent reform generally has been opposed by independent inventors, patent owners and companies, such as pharmaceutical companies, that depend on a strong patent system for their existence. We can expect discussion and debate before action on the bill. The drumbeat of propaganda has begun. Stay tuned.
— Robert Yarbrough, Esquire