Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, has announced a proposal that would require the U.S. Patent and Trademark office to review lawsuits brought by patent trolls before they head to court. Schumer said today that he would formally introduce legislation aimed at patent trolls next week.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association welcomes Schumer’s proposal to expand a review program instituted at the PTO the 2011 America Invents Act (AIA). That initiative, the “covered business method” program, was designed to allow threatened businesses to formally challenge the validity of dubious patents before the Patent Office, but currently applies only to financial products and services industries.
CCIA has been a longtime advocate of patent reform and measures to curb the exponential growth of patent trolls. The following can be attributed to CCIA President & CEO Ed Black:
“We are encouraged by Senator Schumer’s commitment to stand against the patent suits that are dragging down the engine of innovation at the heart of the American economy. His proposal to expand existing Patent Office processes for reexamining abstract, low-quality patents will provide another valuable reform to ensure that the patent system serves to encourage technology innovation instead of litigation.”