Modernizing the U.S. patent system is essential to protecting inventors, preserving American innovation leadership and generating economic growth. IBM congratulates Senators Leahy, Grassley and others for their leadership in forging a bipartisan patent reform bill that was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate in a 95-5 vote.
IBM strongly supports S. 23, the America Invents Act, because it works for all members of the intellectual property community, bolsters our nation’s competitiveness in the global economy, and stimulates innovation. As the top U.S. patent recipient for the past 18 years, IBM believes that S. 23 will enable significant improvements to a system that has not kept pace with dramatic changes in technology and innovation over the last half century.
IBM urges the House to complete its work on patent reform legislation and to act quickly to help preserve American innovation leadership and spur economic growth.
[...] IBM supported the patent measure and praised the passage of the bill. “As the top U.S. patent recipient for the past 18 years, IBM believes that S. 23 will enable significant improvements to a system that has not kept pace with dramatic changes in technology and innovation over the last half century. IBM urges the House to complete its work on patent reform legislation and to act quickly to help preserve American innovation leadership and spur economic growth.” [...]
Who would have believed it — patent reform has finally passed in one chamber. Given the momentum this issue has right now, I’d expect that some version of the bill will likely pass in the House soon, too. As usual, however, the devil will be in the details; though I can’t imagine much opposition to the fee diversion and fee-setting authority provisions, the first-to-file and post-grant issues may prove somewhat thorny.