The pending legislation also deals with damages awarded in court cases involving claims of patent infringement.

"Some claim that courts have allowed damages for infringement to be based on the market for an entire product when all that was infringed is a minor component of the product," Hatch said on the floor.

Kappos said judges and juries have awarded large damages on patent infringement cases, but the bill would give them a framework to determine how much economic value a component really adds to the product in which it is used.

"(The bill) really gets the damages right," Kappos said.

Cannon said he plans to work on an amendment that would allow for computer experts to be trained in aspects of infringement claims. In cases in which someone claims a smaller patented part of a larger patented device violates their patents, these experts would be able to sort out the claims.

"The bill will change somewhat over time," Cannon said.

The House Judiciary Committee is to take up the bill this week.

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Contributing: The Associated Press

E-mail: suzanne@desnews.com