Hatch, Cannon push patent bill

Finding compromise is key to reform, Utah lawmakers say

Published: Wednesday, July 4, 2007 12:03 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
WASHINGTON — Companies behind everything from computer chips and cell phones to pills and beauty products want to see a change in how the United States handles patents, and two of Utah's lawmakers are in the middle of trying to find the right balance.

Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, are part of the congressional committees working on the pending patent bill. Each have received campaign support in the past from some of the bill's top advocates and want to see a change in the patent system, which has not had an update in 50 years.

But trying to change laws that affect virtually every product imaginable, from the intricate inner workings of an iPod, to a toothpaste tube, to prescription drugs and plants, is not easy. Industry coalitions have formed to support or oppose the bill.

"We have to forge a compromise that represents the doable," Hatch said during a Senate Judiciary Committee meeting on the bill last month. "Just about everything we use on a daily basis represents innovation that is protected by our patent system."

Hatch said the debate on the bill has been "mischaracterized" as a "tech versus pharma" showdown" with technology and pharmaceutical companies at opposite ends of what should be in the bill.

Story continues below

"I take umbrage with that notion," Hatch said. "All stakeholders, big or small, no matter what industry, have a vested interest in improving our patent system."

Cannon sits on the House Judiciary Committee, where a subcommittee held a hearing on the bill in May. The full committee needs to approve it before it can go to the House floor for a vote. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, has signed on as a co-sponsor to the Senate bill.

Coalitions of different companies from a variety of industries are quick to point out, too, that different opinions on the bill do not come from one sector to another but business model to business model.

The Coalition for Patent Fairness, which strongly supports Hatch's bill, includes computer companies such as Intel, Apple, Dell and Microsoft, but also Visa, MasterCard, St. Jude Medical and Chevron, among other members.

But on the other side, the Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform, which runs the Web site www.patentsmatter.org, wants to see reform but does not want Congress to "erode the power of the patent," said spokesman Bill Mashek.

"Everyone agrees that the patent system should be renovated," said Coalition for Patent Fairness spokesman Steve Elmendorf. "While there have been only some technical changes made to the bill so far, "any sort of progress is a good thing," he said.

The coalition sent a letter to leaders on the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on June 27, saying the bill's passage is "critical if we are going to restore balance to our patent system and allow innovation to flourish unfettered by current rules that degrade patent quality and encourage gaming of the system."

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

previousnext

Latest comments

I love Millsap, and the Jazz will find a way to move Boozer and match for...

i think its childish to assume that somebody would actually want to get...

Millsap and Boozer need to stay in Utah. Millsap is Boozers backup while he...

Childish and immature? Its always easier being ignorant and presuming things...

can you use words like testimony and church leadership to critisize a...

Bro P really helped me through a tough time in my life when I had him in...

These are only allegations at present, but I hope when he goes to trial, the...

My thoughts are with the Pratt family right now. Michael I hope you are...

It is interesting that everyone who seems to be a member comments on how nice...

You presume, simply because they were gay, that they were trying to "stir...

Advertisements