IBM applauds the introduction of patent reform legislation by Lamar Smith, House Judiciary Committee chairman, and Bob Goodlatte, chairman of the Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet Subcommittee. The America Invents Act, H.R. 1249, will update and enhance our nation’s patent system for the first time in nearly 60 years.
If enacted, the House patent reform legislation will enable essential and significant improvements to the USPTO’s operations and protect the interests of all inventors — both big and small. The House proposal reflects the substantial work done in the House in prior Congresses and closely tracks S.23, the patent legislation recently approved by the Senate in a landslide 95-5 vote. The fact that the House and Senate are approaching consensus on patent reform confirms that landmark change and much-needed modernization of our nation’s antiquated patent system is in reach.
IBM urges the House to swiftly approve H.R. 1249 to stimulate innovation and strengthen our nation’s competitiveness in the global economy.
One might expect the House to be more attentive than the Senate to the needs of independent inventors, but some of the House’s provisions indicate the opposite. The next time patent reform comes before Congress, our legislators should do more to solicit the input of independent innovators and other SMEs.