IBM Commends Passage of U.S. Patent Reform Legislation

IBM congratulates the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for reaching a consensus on patent reform legislation today. This landmark action is an important step toward preserving American innovation leadership and stimulating economic growth.

As the leading recipient of U.S. patents for the past 18 years, IBM has supported patent reform since the moment the legislation was first introduced over five years ago. An efficient and effective patent system is vital to the American inventors and innovators who help fuel our nation’s competitiveness in the global economy.

The America Invents Act, which will become law when it is signed by President Obama, marks the most extensive and important update to the U.S patent system in nearly 60 years. This legislation balances the needs of patent system participants and will enhance the quality of patents issued by the USPTO.

Following years of deliberation and revisions, our elected officials have produced balanced, common-sense legislation that will lead to significant improvements to our patent system, which has not kept pace with dramatic changes in technology and innovation over the last half century. The patent bill is poised to usher in a variety of changes that will improve the patent system, such as:

• Expanding rights for third parties to submit information related to published applications to a patent examiner, and establishing a post-grant review process, which will improve the quality of issued patents.
• Increasing U.S. competitiveness by transitioning to a more objective first-inventor-to-file system, which is used throughout the rest of the world.
• Providing fee setting authority to the USPTO, which will give it the ability to implement the new programs, address the backlog in patent applications, etc.

This patent legislation, together with the recent court decisions, puts the US patent system in a much better position to spur innovation in the 21st century.

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IBM Acclaims House Approval of Patent Reform Legislation

The U.S. House of Representatives today approved The America Invents Act, which will enhance the U.S. patent system, strengthen American competitiveness, and help generate job growth. IBM asserted its support for the House passage and urged quick adoption of the legislation.

The patent reform legislation, H.R. 1249, passed in a 304 to 117 vote.

President Obama has said he will sign the legislation into law, which will mark the most significant update to the U.S. patent system in almost 60 years.

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IBM Supports Fee Diversion Compromise in The America Invents Act

House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Lamar Smith, today announced a compromise on the “fee diversion” provision of The America Invents Act (H.R. 1249).

IBM supports the compromise and encourages the House of Representatives to act swiftly and approve H.R. 1249.

“We are very pleased that Chairman Lamar Smith and his colleagues today have achieved a reasonable compromise on the fee diversion provision, clearing the path for House floor consideration of the America Invents Act.  As the leading recipient of U.S. patents for 18 consecutive years, IBM strongly supports the legislation and urges speedy passage on the House floor,” said Christopher A. Padilla, vice president of Government Programs for IBM.

For the past 18 years, IBM has been the leading recipient of U.S. patents and is the largest user of the U.S. Patent Office.

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IBM Commends House Judiciary Committee Approval of Patent Reform Legislation

IBM congratulates House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith and the Committee for overwhelmingly approving the America Invents Act, H.R. 1249, by a vote of 32-3.

IBM strongly supports H.R. 1249 and urges the House to act quickly to pass this patent reform legislation. H.R. 1249 is important legislation that will create a contemporary patent system, spur innovation and create jobs. In addition, this legislation balances the needs of inventors of all sizes in all industries and will enable essential and significant improvements to the operation of our nation’s patent system. This common-sense set of reforms will update patent laws to keep pace with the cutting edge of innovation and will significantly enhance patent quality.

It is crucial that the House enact H.R. 1249 now to preserve American innovation leadership and spur economic growth.

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IBM Hails Introduction of Patent Reform Legislation in U.S. House of Representatives

IBM applauds the introduction of patent reform legislation by Lamar Smith, House Judiciary Committee chairman, and Bob Goodlatte, chairman of the Intellectual Property, Competition, and the Internet Subcommittee.  The America Invents Act, H.R. 1249, will update and enhance our nation’s patent system for the first time in nearly 60 years.

If enacted, the House patent reform legislation will enable essential and significant improvements to the USPTO’s operations and protect the interests of all inventors — both big and small. The House proposal reflects the substantial work done in the House in prior Congresses and closely tracks S.23, the patent legislation recently approved by the Senate in a landslide 95-5 vote. The fact that the House and Senate are approaching consensus on patent reform confirms that landmark change and much-needed modernization of our nation’s antiquated patent system is in reach.

IBM urges the House to swiftly approve H.R. 1249 to stimulate innovation and strengthen our nation’s competitiveness in the global economy.

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IBM Commends Senate Approval of Patent Reform Bill

Modernizing the U.S. patent system is essential to protecting inventors, preserving American innovation leadership and generating economic growth. IBM congratulates Senators Leahy, Grassley and others for their leadership in forging a bipartisan patent reform bill that was overwhelmingly approved by the Senate in a 95-5 vote.

IBM strongly supports S. 23, the America Invents Act, because it works for all members of the intellectual property community, bolsters our nation’s competitiveness in the global economy, and stimulates innovation. As the top U.S. patent recipient for the past 18 years, IBM believes that S. 23 will enable significant improvements to a system that has not kept pace with dramatic changes in technology and innovation over the last half century.

IBM urges the House to complete its work on patent reform legislation and to act quickly to help preserve American innovation leadership and spur economic growth.

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Patent Reform Vote Vital to U.S. Innovation

This week, the Senate will renew debate on an important bill that will transform our nation’s patent system and, in turn, enhance our competitiveness, create jobs and stimulate economic growth.

The proposed patent legislation—the Patent Reform Act of 2011—offers a reasonable and thoughtful set of reforms that balance the interests of all stakeholders, and updates U.S. patent laws for the first time in more than 50 years.

After years of deliberation and revision, the patent bill proposed by Senators Leahy, Hatch, Grassley and others presents an opportunity to make necessary, vital improvements to the U.S. patent system to protect inventors and promote innovation.

While Congress has grappled with contentious provisions that hindered previous versions of the bill, the Patent Reform Act of 2011 (S.23), is buoyed by broad consensus and support, as reflected by the unanimous vote in its favor by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Under the bi-partisan legislation, the patent system would undergo important changes. The U.S. Patent & Trademark Office would get the tools it desperately needs to reduce the backlog of pending patent applications, while improving the quality of patents issued to inventors. This transformation would bolster American competitiveness in the global economy and help stimulate innovation.

We live in the most innovative country in the world, yet our patent system has not kept pace with changing times. Inventors large and small, as well as the patent bar, universities, and a wide spectrum of industries, are united in their support for the pending patent legislation. Now is the time for Congress to take action and quickly pass the patent reform bill.

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Patent Reform Legislation Reintroduced

By Manny Schecter, IBM Chief Patent Counsel

With the introduction of new U.S. patent reform legislation, Senate leaders continue plans for the most significant update to the nation’s patent laws in more than 50 years. IBM endorses the bill, which we believe will bolster American competitiveness in the global economy and help stimulate innovation.

Senators Leahy, Hatch, Grassley and others have proposed a bill that will benefit the entire patent community. The Patent Reform Act of 2011 (S.23) will modernize and provide essential improvements to the U.S. patent system, protect inventors and promote innovation.

As the top recipient of U.S. patents for the last 18 years, IBM  is the largest user of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and has long been a leading supporter of patent reform. We believe the new bill strikes a careful balance among various users of the U.S. patent system, while updating a system that has not kept pace with dramatic changes in technology and innovation.

The time has come for Congress to act and swiftly adopt this legislation to help preserve American innovation leadership and spur economic growth.

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