Innovation Alliance Participates in White House Patent Stakeholders Roundtable, Reacts to Obama Administration Executive Actions on Patent Issues
WASHINGTON – Today, leadership of the Innovation Alliance participated in a White House roundtable on patent issues following the Obama Administration’s announcement of three new executive actions to combat patent litigation abuse. In reaction, Innovation Alliance Executive Director Brian Pomper released the following statement:
“The Innovation Alliance commends the Obama Administration for taking action on commonsense initiatives designed to protect and strengthen a patent system that fuels innovation and powers our economy. We have long advocated for an inclusive, collaborative process for targeting abusive behavior, and were pleased to see the broad range of stakeholders represented in today’s roundtable. Many of these stakeholders continue to have serious concerns about patent legislation currently pending in the Senate – particularly regarding the overly broad customer stay provision and the expansion of the covered business method program.
“As the White House begins its work to implement these executive actions, we urge them to support ongoing efforts to end USPTO fee diversion permanently in statute – because without adequate and reliable funding, the agency will continue to be so strapped financially that it won’t be able to manage its affairs effectively, much less successfully tackle the new challenges laid out by these executive actions.
“Patents power our nation’s innovation economy, creating millions of jobs each year and securing our role as the global leader in breakthrough discoveries. As policymakers consider changes to the patent system, they should take the time needed to develop a consensus product that will be a force for progress for the full range of American innovators, from start-ups to Fortune 500 companies.”
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The Innovation Alliance represents innovators, patent owners and stakeholders from a diverse range of industries that believe in the critical importance of maintaining a strong patent system that supports innovative enterprises of all sizes. Innovation Alliance members can be found in large and small communities across the country, helping to fuel the innovation pipeline and drive the 21st century economy.