Patent Reform Heats Up

Information Today, Vol. 22, No. 7, p. 17, July/August 2005

3 Pages Posted: 15 Jul 2010

Date Written: July/August 2005

Abstract

There has been a dramatic rise in patents issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office, particularly in technology related areas. Patent statistics show that the number of software, technology and technology-related business practices patents have more than doubled in the last six years. In the area of data processing, database and file management, the number of issued patents has quadrupled. While patents serve a useful purpose in providing incentive for development, patents also “lock up” a particularly technology, limiting development to the patent owner. Too many such locks can serve to hamper the broader growth of technology.

Congress appears to be taking these concerns to heart. A patent reform proposal is generating significant interest among business, technology and software interests, and was the subject two April hearings before the House Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property. A draft bill which would dramatically restructure the patent process was released on April 14 and is receiving widespread attention.

Keywords: patents, patent law, patent lawsuits, patent reform, first to file, first to invent, infringement, legislation, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, USPTO, international patent law, Internet, technology

Suggested Citation

Pike, George H., Patent Reform Heats Up (July/August 2005). Information Today, Vol. 22, No. 7, p. 17, July/August 2005, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1640142

George H. Pike (Contact Author)

Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law ( email )

375 E. Chicago Ave
Chicago, IL 60611
United States
312-503-0295 (Phone)
312-503-9230 (Fax)

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
32
Abstract Views
407
PlumX Metrics