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Senator Leahy Kills Patent Reform

posted by martyb on Thursday May 22 2014, @05:33PM   Printer-friendly

stormwyrm writes:

The EFF reports that Senate Judiciary Committee chair Patrick Leahy has announced that he is taking the Innovation Act off the Judiciary Committee's agenda. According to Senator Leahy's official statement:

Unfortunately, there has been no agreement on how to combat the scourge of patent trolls on our economy without burdening the companies and universities who rely on the patent system every day to protect their inventions. We have heard repeated concerns that the House-passed bill went beyond the scope of addressing patent trolls, and would have severe unintended consequences on legitimate patent holders who employ thousands of Americans.

I have said all along that we needed broad bipartisan support to get a bill through the Senate. Regrettably, competing companies on both sides of this issue refused to come to agreement on how to achieve that goal.

However, the Innovation Act passed 325-91 in the House with strong bipartisan support, as well as massive support from industry as well, and the President has signalled his support for the initiative. The EFF comments:

Leahy effectively deferred a problem—a serious problem he readily admits exists—in order to please the pharmaceutical, biotech, and university lobbies that are hardly the victims of patent trolls anyway... What Senator Leahy really means, is that he does not support a deal and is willing to be the final roadblock.

 
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  • (Score: 4, Funny) by everdred on Thursday May 22 2014, @06:48PM

    by everdred (110) on Thursday May 22 2014, @06:48PM (#46482) Journal

    Wikipedia won't survive on lurkers alone. Make edits.

    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +2  
       Funny=2, Total=2
    Extra 'Funny' Modifier   0  
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  
    Total Score:   4  

  • (Score: 1) by Lunix Nutcase on Thursday May 22 2014, @07:48PM

    by Lunix Nutcase (3913) on Thursday May 22 2014, @07:48PM (#46504)

    Can I get a tote bag?

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 22 2014, @08:17PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday May 22 2014, @08:17PM (#46515)

    If you don't the topic squatters might disappear without any edits to undo.

  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by tibman on Friday May 23 2014, @01:33AM

    by tibman (134) Subscriber Badge on Friday May 23 2014, @01:33AM (#46585)

    lol, thanks for the push. Made the edit, wasn't so bad. Bets on how long it will survive?

    --
    SN won't survive on lurkers alone. Write comments.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 23 2014, @12:06PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday May 23 2014, @12:06PM (#46717)

    Truer words were never spoken. Why you were modded funny instead of insightful or interesting I don't get. Wikipedia thrives on edits.