U.S. Senator: Patent Bill Will Pass

While Congress has recently been receiving  flack for their bailouts of financial institutions, one subject that has been lost in the news is the progress of U.S. patent reform.  In fact, Senator Orrin Hatch predicted that the bill, currently being written, would pass the Senate.  “I think we’re close to it,” he told Reuters.

The bill looks to address the main issues that are currently plaguing the patent system.  First, the new bill will reduce damages paid for infringement, while also making it tougher for plaintiffs to find an infringement-friendly court. 

The bill will also contain language making it tougher to show misconduct in applying for patents.  This portion of the bill would force plaintiffs to find evidence of misconduct to win invalidation of a patent, rather than a simple error in the patent process.  However, the bill does not currently include these clauses.  “They left it out, with the understanding that they are going to work it out,” Hatch said.

When Orrin was asked if the bill would pass this year, the Republican from Utah said, “I think so.  This is the closest we’ve come to really doing this job.  I’d be very shocked (if it didn’t).”