- REPUBLICANS PROTEST SPEED OF PATENT REFORM BILL

- REPUBLICANS PROTEST SPEED OF PATENT REFORM BILL

Representative John Boehner and other Republican leaders have written a
letter to House Speaker Pelosi, asking her to slow down the pace of the
patent reform bill.

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker, U.S. Capitol
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Speaker Pelosi

We are writing to express concerns about the pending patent reform
legislation (H.R. 1908). As you know, patents are the lifeblood of the
enormously diverse economic engines that drive our economy. That
diversity is one of the reasons that the United States economy is the
strongest in the world. While our patent system is in need of reform,
we are very concerned that the bill in its present form picks winners
and losers among industries with different business models in a way
that has never been attempted in patent law or practice.

Unquestionably, improving our patent system and the quality of
patents is of paramount importance. However, those improvements cannot
come at the cost of some domestic industries over others. There is no
doubt that the bill's sponsors have worked hard on the legislation, but
a bill of this importance and impact should not be rushed to the floor
for quick passage. In our current political climate it is rare to find
an issue that unites groups from the AFL-CIO to Eagle Forum in
opposition
to a bill they view as undermining the patent system that created
quality
jobs and American innovation. With manufacturers, labor unions,
universities, biotech companies, high tech innovators, independent
inventors, and others all expressing concerns about the patent bill in
its present form, it is a strong and clear signal that more work needs
to be done to reach consensus on patent reform.

We agree that some progress has been made, for example, on the post
grant opposition issue, nonetheless we remain concerned that the right
balance has not yet been struck on many other crucial issues within the
patent reform debate - such as damages, rulemaking authority for the
Patent & Trademark Office (PTO), inequitable conduct, and others.

Rather than scheduling this bill for quick consideration by the
House,
we are asking you to work with the sponsors in urging them to continue
to work to find consensus so that all U.S. companies benefit from
reforming the patent system rather than advantaging one business model
over another. If that course is pursued, we stand ready to work with
you in a bipartisan manner for an outcome that benefits the entire U.S.
economy.

Sincerely, John Boehner, Republican Leader
Roy Blunt, Republican Whip