Patent Reform Act of 2009



House action
Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) introduced H.R. 1260 on March 3, 2009. On April 30, a the House Committee on the Judiciary held a hearing on the bill. (To watch a video of the hearing, go here.)

Senate action
Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced S.515 on March 3, 2009. 

Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) introduced S.610 on March 17, 2009. 

Support
In an editorial in BusinessWeek, Sen. Leahy argued in favor of the Patent Reform Act, saying it "will establish a more efficient, streamlined patent system that will improve patent quality and limit unnecessary, counterproductive litigation costs, while making sure no party’s access to court is denied."

Opposition
In an editorial in BusinessWeek, Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) argued against the Patent Reform Act, saying it "is not reform, but instead changes the law to benefit a narrow sector of the electronics industry, and trial lawyers."

External articles

 * 1) Grant Gross, "Patent reform bill meets opposition during hearing," The Industry Standard, April 30, 2009.