Innovation Alliance Statement on Chairman Goodlatte’s Reintroduction of the “Innovation Act”
Washington, D.C. – The Innovation Alliance today issued the following statement on House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s (R-VA) reintroduction of the Innovation Act:
“Recently, more than 250 startups, companies, and organizations wrote to Congress to support targeted measures to address bad behavior and warned against overly-broad legislation that would weaken the patent system and diminish U.S. innovation and job creation. Unfortunately the bill being introduced is overbroad and does not take into account the many developments that have taken place over the past year in the patent landscape – including a documented plunge in the patent litigation rate, five Supreme Court cases, and actions by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Federal Trade Commission, and Judicial Conference that address many of the problems that this legislation originally targeted when it was first introduced in the House in 2013.
“Reports are that the bill is virtually identical to what was introduced in the House in 2013, as if none of these developments had taken place, and as if the patent landscape is precisely the same as it was more than a year ago. This will unfortunately cause many innovators to question whether Congress is paying sufficient heed to the effects of these developments on our patent system and economy, and the long-term risks of over-legislating and increasing the costs and time associated with enforcing inventors’ valid patents.
“Our collective aim should be to address harmful patent enforcement practices while ensuring our patent system remains strong and continues to provide the support that has made the United States the global leader in innovation. The Innovation Alliance hopes to work with Congress toward that end.”
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ABOUT THE INNOVATION ALLIANCE
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. Learn more at www.innovation.wideeyeclient.com.
Contact: Kat Maramba, 202-827-9678, Kathrina@BlueEngineMedia.com