Innovation Alliance Statement on the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Patent Issues
For Immediate Release
WASHINGTON – Innovation Alliance Executive Director Brian Pomper released the following statement regarding today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on patent issues:
“The Innovation Alliance shares the common goal of developing specific measures to target abusive litigation behavior in patent cases. While we continue to have serious concerns with some of the specific proposals under consideration in the Senate, we are working hard with other stakeholders and leaders in the Senate to develop a consensus product that targets abusive behavior and will be a force for progress for the full range of American innovation.
“In particular, the Innovation Alliance shares the view of other stakeholders that the customer stay provision as currently contemplated should be narrowed to apply only to retailers and small business end users, not to all entities throughout the supply chain. Certain proposals, if drafted to avoid any undue burden on patent holders, are welcome, such as heightened pleading standards, enhanced disclosure of the real party in interest, and measures to address bad faith demand letters. Certain others, however, are quite problematic, including expanding the covered business method program, bifurcating discovery, and repealing ‘could have raised estoppel’ in post grant reviews.
“The U.S. patent system has helped make the United States the most innovative economy in the world. Any action that would alter that system should be approached with caution and forethought to make sure we’re not doing more harm than good, and should take account of the interests and concerns of small inventors and start-ups from a wide array of industries. These are the very innovators who will create tomorrow’s jobs and stand to be most impacted by any patent legislation. We hope they will have the opportunity to have their voices heard in the legislative process.”
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Contact: Jaime Horn, (202) 827-7859, Jaime@BlueEngineMedia.com