Imperial Valley Press: What Congress and the Trump Administration must do to defend patent rights by Kristen Osenga
American innovation is under attack. Across the country, it’s increasingly difficult for startups to protect their inventions from large companies that want to steal them.
It’s up to Congress and the new administration to fix the situation — which will go a long way to achieving the president’s stated goal of boosting America’s global competitiveness.
For small businesses, justice in court isn’t the norm. Pursuing a patent case can cost millions. Smaller companies often can’t afford the lengthy legal battle, leaving them with no choice but to accept their losses or settle for a fraction of what their patents are worth. The practice of “steal now, pay later” — often dubbed “efficient” infringement — has become common. But it’s not efficient, it’s predatory.