Microchip Execs Make Their Voices Heard
Giants of the $120 billion U.S. microchip business are united in their message to Congress on topics from the need for industry-friendly tax policies to greater federal investment in research and development, but they are divided over legislation that would bring sweeping changes to the patent system. Intel Chairman Craig Barrett and Qualcomm CDMA President Steve Mollenkopf acknowledged the friction Wednesday during a roundtable that was bookended by visits with lawmakers. The split is over language in a bill sponsored by Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy and Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, that would dictate how damages are calculated in patent infringement lawsuits.
Qualcomm believes altering the damages regime could disadvantage entities that rely on patents, particularly small high-tech companies, Mollenkopf said. Barrett argued the opposite, pointing to what he believes is a patent system that has not kept pace with innovation. "We are a big industry that has a lot of different business models and perspectives and we cannot agree on everything," said Mollenkopf, whose company is part of a lobbying group that launched in 2007 to represent the interests of small tech and patent-licensing firms as similar bills moved through the House and Senate. The House passed its version, but the Senate measure stalled in the spring when Leahy and Judiciary ranking member Arlen Specter could not reach agreement on damages language.
Read the full story in CongressDaily's AM Edition here (subscription required).
More of this week's coverage of the patent debate:
Businesses Lead Charge Against Patent Challenge Language
Senators Ask Leahy, Hatch For Caution On Patent Reform
Specter's 'Gatekeeper' Language Gets Backing
Join the Discussion
The National Journal Group has the right (but not the obligation) to monitor the comments and to remove any materials it deems inappropriate.
Comments powered by Disqus