A group of Senators and Representatives has just released the draft text of a bipartisan, bicameral proposal to reform Section 101 of the Patent Act. Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Chris Coons (D-DE), Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property; Representative Doug Collins (R-GA-9), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee; Hank Johnson (D-GA-4), Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and the Courts; and Steve Stivers (R-OH-15) sent the draft text via press release today. The stated goal of releasing the draft is to solicit feedback—there will be additional stakeholder feedback and Senate hearings, according to the press release.Senate hearings on the topic will be held on June 4, 5 and 11 featuring three panels of five witnesses each, for a total of 45 witnesses over three days. The draft text explicitly states that “the provisions of section 101 shall be construed in favor of eligibility.”
Recent Posts
- IP as a Force for Good: A Conversation with WIPO Director General Daren Tang
- Stewart Defends Hands-On Approach as Squires Confirmation Looms
- Former USPTO Solicitor Urges Squires Confirmation, Accuses Acting Director of Overreach
- Other Barks & Bites for Friday, September 12: Novartis Loses Challenge to IRA Drug Price Negotiation Program; Lutnick Wants a Share of University IP Licensing; and EUIPO Announces First Copyright Conference
- Government Taking a Cut of University Royalties Would Threaten Bayh-Dole’s ROI