House Passes Patent Reform Measures

BUSINESS NEWS

In early September, the House of Representatives passed a controversial patent reform bill that has drawn heavy criticism from the medical device industry. Opponents of the Patent Reform Act of 2007 argue that the legislation would ultimately hinder U.S. innovation across diverse sectors of the American economy.

"The closely divided vote in the House of Representatives demonstrates the significant bipartisan opposition to the patent reform plan as currently written," said Christopher White, general counsel for industry association AdvaMed (Washington, DC). "It weakens important patent protections by making patents easier to challenge and cheaper to infringe at a time when America's innovators, manufacturers, and workers need stronger patent protections to compete internationally.

"AdvaMed hopes the U.S. Senate will carefully consider this legislation and act to protect America's competitiveness and the future of medical innovation," he added.

AdvaMed says the proposed law contains some of the most sweeping changes to America's patent system since the 1950s. The association is urging the Senate to delay further patent legislation until improvements can be made.