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February 12, 2008
Money Matters
The
Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform, whose motto is "patents matter,"
made no small matter of making money matter in lobbying for patent legislation:
paying law firm Akin Gump $1.2 million in
2007 to grease the skids.
$420,000 was shelled out in the first half of 2007, $760,000 in the second half. Duping the House into action was a snap, even though nailing the right jelly to the wall eluded them; but buying senators proved more vexing.
IP barbell AIPLA is a member of the 21st Century club, as well as the expected corporate contingent.
The Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform favors: limiting "subjective elements" in patent litigation, such as inequitable conduct, willful infringement, and the "best mode" requirement; first-to-file; limited post-grant opposition. The group opposes: damages apportionment; letting the PTO run amok with rule-making; interlocutory appeals; venue restriction; having the loser pay costs and attorney fees; and being able to skirt infringement by offshore assembly.
Posted by Patent Hawk at February 12, 2008 7:39 PM | The Patent System
Comments
IMO, the patent law has become so messed up that I think the reform bill should be canned altogether. I wrote both of my senators urging them to vote no on it. The good things in it aren't worth all the bad.
Posted by: bierbelly at February 13, 2008 5:25 AM
"IMO, the patent law has become so messed up that I think the reform bill should be canned altogether. I wrote both of my senators urging them to vote no on it. The good things in it aren't worth all the bad."
Bierbelly,
Amen and ditto on whiat I told my 2 Senators.
Posted by: EG at February 13, 2008 6:50 AM