Congress Passes Patent System "Reform"

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives passed legislation that will launch a major overhaul of the patent system. A National Journal article notes the passage, its key points, and objections to the legislation.

The action was backed by the Obama administration, high tech firms, and other business interests. The legislation's sponsors expect the new guidelines to ease the lengthy backlog in patent applications, improve procedures to avoid litigation, and place the United States on the same filing system as the rest of the industrialized world.

Big winners in this legislation are major corporations, such as marquee Silicon Valley players, such as Google and Apple, and major pharmaceutical companies.