September 29th, 2021
United for Patent Reform sent a letter to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in support of their new legislation, the Restoring the America Invents Act, introduced on September 29. The letter commends both senators for seeking to restore essential elements of the America Invents Act (AIA) to protect patent quality by reversing administrative changes made by the U.S. Patent and Trade Office (PTO) that undermine the intent of the Inter Partes Review (IPR) program. Read the full letter here.
June 22nd, 2021
United for Patent Reform submitted testimony to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property which today, held a hearing titled, "Protecting Real Innovations by Improving Patent Quality." In our testimony, we affirmed that it is imperative to have a renewed focus on improving patent quality at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. And for the next director of the Patent and Trademark Office, it is equally imperative to choose a candidate who recognizes that improvements are needed and will take swift action to address them. As this hearing rightfully acknowledges, the patent system exists to promote and protect real innovation for the benefit of the American public, not to issue undeserving patents that place a drag on innovation and are used to go after productive businesses.
Read the full testimony here.
March 16th, 2021
United for Patent Reform Co-Chair and National Retail Federation Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Stephanie Martz wrote an op-ed in Morning Consult about the impact the next director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office can have on Main Street businesses recovering from the pandemic by strengthening tools that protect innovation and fight back against opportunistic lawsuits.
December 3rd, 2020
United for Patent Reform argued in comments to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) that the agency’s “discretionary denial” policies on patent challenges have had a significant, damaging impact on U.S. businesses by encouraging abusive litigation and forcing costly nuisance settlements. The PTO’s policies arbitrarily cut off access to a critical component of the patent system, and the broad coalition of diverse American businesses said the PTO should return to carrying out the statute that Congress enacted. Read the full comments.
December 2nd, 2020
United for Patent Reform joined the App Association (ACT), the Internet Association (IA), the National Retail Federation (NRF), and the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA) in filing an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case United States v. Arthrex. At issue is whether the administrative patent judges (APJs) who preside over inter partes review (IPR) proceedings as members of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) are “inferior” or “principal” executive officers and the practical effects of that distinction. The organizations argue that IPR’s had the intended effect of increased accuracy and efficiency in the patent system; text, purpose, and structure of IPR regime underscore why APJs are “inferior;” even if APJs are “principal,” federal circuit’s severability analysis most faithful to Congress. Read the full text of the brief.
September 8th, 2020
Throughout the pandemic, countless patent trolls have proven they have no shame in utilizing an economic crisis to further exploit legitimate businesses. Check out this op-ed by Washington Food Industry Association CEO and President Jan Gee to see how NPE's are harming Washington state's independent supermarkets, convenience stores, coffee houses and more.
September 29, 2021
United for Patent Reform sent a letter to Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) in support of their new legislation, the Restoring the America Invents Act, introduced on September 29. The letter commends both senators for seeking to restore essential elements of the America Invents Act (AIA) to protect patent quality by reversing administrative changes made by the U.S. Patent and Trade Office (PTO) that undermine the intent of the Inter Partes Review (IPR) program. Read the full letter here.
June 22, 2021
United for Patent Reform submitted testimony to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property which today, held a hearing titled, "Protecting Real Innovations by Improving Patent Quality." In our testimony, we affirmed that it is imperative to have a renewed focus on improving patent quality at the United States Patent and Trademark Office. And for the next director of the Patent and Trademark Office, it is equally imperative to choose a candidate who recognizes that improvements are needed and will take swift action to address them. As this hearing rightfully acknowledges, the patent system exists to promote and protect real innovation for the benefit of the American public, not to issue undeserving patents that place a drag on innovation and are used to go after productive businesses. Read the full testimony here.
March 16, 2021
United for Patent Reform Co-Chair and National Retail Federation Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel Stephanie Martz wrote an op-ed in Morning Consult about the impact the next director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office can have on Main Street businesses recovering from the pandemic by strengthening tools that protect innovation and fight back against opportunistic lawsuits.
December 3, 2020
United for Patent Reform argued in comments to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) that the agency’s “discretionary denial” policies on patent challenges have had a significant, damaging impact on U.S. businesses by encouraging abusive litigation and forcing costly nuisance settlements. The PTO’s policies arbitrarily cut off access to a critical component of the patent system, and the broad coalition of diverse American businesses said the PTO should return to carrying out the statute that Congress enacted. Read the full comments.
Read more from @Law360 about the report, the surge in patent litigation during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it im… https://t.co/6eNxI2vxmO
Cedar Lane Technologies, a Canadian NPE, targeted American businesses by filing at least 75 new patent lawsuits thi… https://t.co/q9pSON7V04
A new report by @Aon_Plc reveals an explosion in patent litigation began around the start of COVID lockdowns in Mar… https://t.co/71BxTAwdFm
Colorado-based small business owner Laura Bradford explains the danger non-practicing entities pose to businesses l… https://t.co/YKWkYPWZJG
Small business owner Jean Anne Booth wrote for @wacotrib about how non-practicing entities wreaked havoc on her bus… https://t.co/XZeDUDkR1t
@SenatorLeahy & @SenThomTillis sent a letter to Chief Justice Roberts, expressing concerns about ongoing issues at… https://t.co/oc8C3dYw09
