Leahy Cites Progress On Patent Bill
As expected, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday delayed consideration of controversial patent legislation introduced earlier this month by Chairman Patrick Leahy and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. The bill has been criticized by a number of industry stakeholders -- mainly because of its controversial provision to change how damage are awarded in patent infringement lawsuits -- but was put on the agenda for the panel's mark up anyway. Under committee rules, any member can request a hold-over on legislation that appears on the agenda for the first time. In this case it was ranking member Arlen Specter who asked that the bill be held (see CongressDaily's PM Edition for more).
Leahy indicated that productive meetings had been held on the legislation with a number of offices. "The hearing last week demonstrated that there is wide consensus among participants in the patent system, academics, and senators on this committee that patent reform is necessary," he said. "It should also be apparent, at least in my view, that the time for posturing has ended, and the time for reaching agreement has arrived." At the patent hearing, Specter asked witnesses for language to describe what the test for damages should be and many of them were close to using the same words, Leahy said. "We are looking for a way to get this right, to legislate responsibly." The committee is expected to revisit the bill in executive session next Thursday.
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