CCIA Calls For U.S. Patent Reforms

File Under: 2005, Copyright

Jun 28, 2005

June 9, 2005 — The US Patent system must change in order to assure fair competition and continued innovation, the Computer & Communications Industry Association said today.

In a written statement delivered to the House Subcommittee o­n Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property, The Association called o­n Congress to change the nation''s laws so that:

*Patents are, in fact, novel, useful and not obvious.* There is no link between Patent Office finances and application approval.* More than a single, specialty court has jurisdiction over the nation''s patents.* Patent examiners have the funding and resources they need to issue high-   quality patents.* Third parties may submit "prior art," or evidence of similar inventions that may support or invalidate a patent claim.

CCIA's statement was submitted as part of Congressional hearings examining HR 2795, The Patent Reform Act of 2005. The bill, which is still in subcommittee, would reform several key areas of the nation's faltering patent system. CCIA, the Open Source and Industry Alliance and other high-tech associations have called for significant reforms in the face of nuisance suits that have disrupted much of the software industry, in particular those parts that are dependent o­n open source software. Read CCIA's statement here:

UPDATE June 14, 2005: Read CCIA's statement o­n patent reform before the Senate Subcommittee o­n Intellectual Propertry here