The U.S. Senate voted to pass Sen. Patrick Leahy’s, D-Vt.,
America Invents Act (S. 23) in an 87-3 vote. Leahy is chairman
of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
In previous congresses, there have been Senate and House efforts to increase opportunities for automotive parts manufacturers to obtain automaker intellectual property. No related language was included in this legislation.
Regarding Senate passage of the patent legislation, Leahy said:
“The last time Congress significantly updated the patent system was more than half a century ago. In the intervening decades, our economy has changed dramatically. A patent system developed for a 1952 economy – before the Internet, before cell phones, before computers, before photocopiers, even before the IBM Selectric typewriter – needs to be reconsidered in light of 21st century realities, while staying true to the consistent constitutional imperative of encouraging innovation and invention. Our patent laws that were the envy of the world in the 20th century desperately need to be updated if we are to compete effectively and win the future. China and the European Union are improving their patent laws. We cannot remain complacent. If we are going to win the global competition by out-innovating the rest of the world, we need a patent system that works in the 21st century.”To view the text of the legislation, visit ASA’s legislative website www.TakingTheHill.com.
