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Washington, D.C. - The House Committee on the Judiciary today passed The Patent Reform Act of 2007, the most significant patent reform legislation in 50 years.
"Our patent system is badly in need of repair," said Berman. "Patents of poor quality are being granted, and rising costs and lengthy litigation are damaging to innovation and creativity. This legislation is designed to improve patent quality, deter abusive practices by patent holders, provide meaningful, low-cost alternatives to litigation for challenging the patent validity and harmonize U.S. patent law with the patent law of most other countries."
"This is a controversial and complex bill that makes substantial changes to the US patent system," Said Berman " -- the most significant since the 1952 patent act. Naturally, the magnitude of changes contemplated by this act has given pause to many users of the patent system, but fear of change is no reason not to fix the obviously serious problems in the patent system."
"Our objective in passing this bill is to reform the patent system so that patents continue to encourage innovation," he continued. "When it functions properly, the patent system should encourage and enable inventors to push the boundaries of knowledge and possibility. If the patent system allows questionable patents to issue and does not provide adequate safeguards against patent abuses, the system ends up stifling innovation and interfering with competitive market forces."
Berman introduced and the Committee approved an extensive manager's amendment which made significant changes to many issues originally addressed in the bill as it was introduced. He noted that divergent interests still needed to be addressed and announced his intention to continue working to resolve them as the bill traveled to the full House and to a Conference Committee.
"Past attempts at achieving comprehensive patent reform have met with stiff resistance," said Berman. "However, the time to reform the system is way past due. I hope to take this bill to the full House for a vote before we break for August recess."
Below are Rep. Berman's opening statement, his Managers Amendment, and the explanation of the changes included in the Managers Amendment.
To read Rep. Berman's opening statement click here.
To read Rep. Berman's Manager's Amendment click here.
To read Rep. Berman's summary of the Manager's Amendment click here.
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