Tuesday, March 08, 2011

Senate Votes 95-5 to Overhaul Patent System.

In a rare sign of bipartisanship this evening the United States Senate voted 95-5 to pass a bill reforming America's current patent system, which was designed in 1952, to meet the 21st century's technological era and to make the system more effective and efficient for American inventors.

The "Patent Reform Act of 2011" will transform the American patent system from "first-to-invent" to "first-to-file" if the House concurs (which it likely will). This reform will result in fewer lawsuits and quicker patents, while protecting inventors and small businesses alike. President Obama has promised to sign the bill into law.

Opposition was also bipartisan with two Democrats (Boxer and Cantwell) and three Republicans (Crapo, Ensign and Risch) voting against reform.

What say you?

No comments:

Post a Comment