Dispatch From Denver: Patent Reform, Pending
Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., told a crowd in Denver on Tuesday that it is crucial for Congress to pass legislation to update the U.S. patent system next year -- even if the measure is a scaled back version of the broad, controversial language that was in play during the 110th Congress. The House passed its patent bill but a companion stalled in the Senate.
Lofgren, who represents the Bay Area and is a key member of the House Judiciary Committee, said a new effort should begin with "things we know we can agree on." A proposal that would curb judicial "venue-shopping" for favorable courts is critical as is language to address patent abuses, she said. "How do you legally set a framework that prevents abuses and allows for a vigorous system that protects intellectual property?" Lofgren asked aloud. "It's not easy to come up with solutions."
Qualcomm general counsel Don Rosenberg urged lawmakers to proceed with caution. He said patent reform is necessary but the U.S. regime is already "the gold standard in the world" and that leadership role must be protected. Some proposals might negatively impact innovation, he said. The focus of changes should be on the Patent and Trademark Office, not necessarily sweeping changes to how cases are litigated, Rosenberg said.
More patent talk is expected Thursday at a luncheon on the topic sponsored by the Silicon Flatirons at the University of Colorado, officials said.
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