Rep. Matsui Votes for Patent Reform Act That Will Protect Sacramento’s Innovators and Inventors
Friday, September 7, 2007
Today, Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-5) joined a bipartisan majority in passing the Patent Reform Act, a bill that will strengthen the patent system and improve patent quality. Patents are critical to American inventors, benefit consumers by bringing cutting-edge products to the market, and stimulate greater innovation, growth and competitiveness. It is the first patent reform legislation in over 50 years.
“Our inventors and innovators are pioneers, working to keep America at forefront of the global economy. They deserve to have a patent system that is as modern and forward-thinking as their ideas,” said Matsui.
The bill is designed to increase the amount of high-quality patents that are issued and reduce patent litigation. It will strengthen the patent system and improve patent quality by deterring abusive practices and by creating a more effective system for considering challenges to the validity of patents. It is the result of six years of work and overhauls the elements of the current system that have been identified as problematic.
The Patent Reform Act will also set a new standard for infringement cases, allowing profits from a product to be prorated piecemeal. This overhaul will benefit computer manufacturers and other high-tech firms that have products that have thousands of different components. This improvement will broaden the avenues available to the courts to evaluate penalties on a case-by-case basis, allowing for decisions that are tailored to every industry.
Coming on the heels of the America Competes Act, the Patent Reform Act is another step in keeping America abreast of the global economy. It invests in American ingenuity and denotes a renewed commitment to research, innovation, and promotes the progress of science.
“The Democratic Leadership has pledged to take American in a new direction and ensure our nation’s global competitiveness for generations to come. Passing the Patent Reform Act is a significant step in making good on that promise,” said Matsui.
