PATENT REFORM 2011 - IN THE NEWS

PRESS COVERAGE

[UPDATED 9-5-11]

INTRODUCTION:
“Any one of the proposed issues, alone, would be a major change to the U.S. patent system. Currently, arguments by those supporting or opposing the current changes, seem to be focusing on a few issues related to infringement, calculating damages for infringement, and injunctive relief, which are critically important. But many of the proposed changes in the Patent Reform Act of 2011, now called the "America Invents Act of 2011" are tied-in to the worldwide “first-to-file” system. This first-to-file “package of issues” , along with the infringement issues, will destroy the intrinsic incentives and original intention of the U.S. 200+ year old patent system. A change to “first-to-file” will be detrimental to the independent inventor, our economy and our standard of living."
--Stephen Paul Gnass

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Note: Articles are listed in descending chronological order, with the most recent first.

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A Labor Day Message for President Obama
By Henry R. Nothhaft, Wall Street Journal
September 3, 2011
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904716604576542820083918028.html

How the new bid to reform patent law will kill jobs
By Gary Lauder, CNN Money
September 2, 2011
http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/09/02/how-the-new-bid-to-reform-patent-law-will-kill-jobs/

Column: Unique U.S. patent system in peril
By Gary Lauder, USA Today
September 2, 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2011-09-01/Column-Unique-US-patent-system-in-peril/50231894/1

Businesses Split on Merits of Overhauling Patent Process

By Adam Sege - McClatchy Newspapers

8/16/11

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/08/16/120932/businesses-split-on-merits-of.html

The Spoilsmen: How Congress Corrupted Patent Reform
By Zach Carter HuffPost Politics
8/4/11 Updated 8/15/11
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/04/patent-reform-congress_n_906278.html

Reid: Patent Reform Bill On Agenda After Recess
By Gautham Nages - The Hill's Hillicon Valley
8/2/11
http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/175099-patent-reform-bill-on-senate-agenda-after-reces

How Will Patent Reform Solve The USPTO Backlog?
By Courtenay Brinckerhoff, PharmaPatents Blog
7/5/11
http://www.pharmapatentsblog.com/patent-reform/how-will-patent-reform-solve-the-uspto-examination-backlog/

Patently Absurd or: How to Go From the World's Best Patent System to Worse-Than-Most in a Single Step
By Gary Lauder, HuffPost Business
3/7/11
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/gary-lauder/patently-absurd-or-how-to_b_832703.html

March 9, 2011 National Journal
By Josh Smith

House to Introduce 'Similar' Patent Reform Bill This Month

The House of Representatives will introduce its own version of patent reform legislation sometime this month, said House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith, R-Texas.

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March 9, 2011 National Journal
By Josh Smith

Patent Bill Passes Senate, House Hurdles Lie Ahead

...The bill gathered wide, bipartisan support in the Senate, but the path ahead remains unclear. Several powerful business groups, as well some conservative activists, are opposed to some of the measure's provisions...

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March 3, 2011 National Journal
By Josh Smith

Patent Debate Produces Odd, Bipartisan Alliances

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., introduced a promised amendment with the support of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., that would preserve the current U.S. system of issuing patents to whoever invents an item first. Under Leahy's proposed America Invents Act, patents would be awarded to the first person to file a patent application, even if someone else invented the item first.

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February 28, 2011 The Huffington Post
Small Business America - By Jim Abrams

Patent Law Could Get Huge Overhaul Under New Bill

The patent system hasn't changed much since 1952 when Sony was coming out with its first pocket-size transistor radio, and bar codes and Mr. Potato Head were among the inventions patented. Now, after years of trying, Congress may be about to do something about that.

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February 28, 2011 Yahoo News
By JIM ABRAMS, Associated Press

Congress takes up major change in patent law

The Senate is taking up the Patent Reform Act, which would significantly overhaul a 1952 law and, supporters say, bring the patent system in line with 21st century technology of biogenetics and artificial intelligence.

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