Is Patent Reform Good For Small Firms?
A story in Wednesday's Technology Daily about small tech firms' lobbying efforts on patent reform ruffled the feathers of other stakeholders in the debate. I received a few calls and e-mails about the coverage, which is encouraged because I always appreciate getting feedback from readers.
The article explained how members of the Innovation Alliance were urging lawmakers to proceed with caution as twin patent bills move through the House and Senate. They feel their voices are being drowned out by groups like the Coalition for Patent Fairness (which is backed by Apple, Cisco Systems, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Microsoft).
But the coalition argues that the legislation is good for the little guys. "Small businesses rely on patents to protect their latest innovations, which are often the foundation of their company," a coalition one-pager states. "By strengthening and clarifying the process for obtaining and enforcing patents, and ensuring fair and even-handed treatment in the courts, small business owners and inventors will again be able to focus on developing new products and remaining competitive."
A spokesman pointed out that the Information Technology Association and Computing Technology Industry Association, which represent a number of small- and mid-sized tech firms, are members of the coalition and support the bills. ITAA and CompTIA officials testified at a House Small Business Committee hearing on the topic in March.
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