House Approves Innovation Act Amending U.S. Patent System

By an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 325-91, the House of Representatives of the U.S. recently passed H.R. 3309, the patent system Innovation Act. The bill would combat abusive patent litigation, such as patent troll activity against printing companies. A patent troll has been defined as “a small company who enforces patent rights against accused infringers in an attempt to collect licensing fees, but does not manufacture products or supply services based upon the patents in question.”

The House says the Innovation Act is supported by a wide range of groups listed on the House’s website, including stakeholders from all areas of the economy representing businesses across the country, as well as independent inventors and innovators.

Embracing passage of the Innovation Act were: House Judiciary Committee Chairman and Chief Sponsor of the Innovation Act, Bob Goodlatte (R-VA); Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR.); Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Chairman Howard Coble (R-NC); Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA.); Representative Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), and Representative Anna Eshoo (D-CA).

Chairman Goodlatte said, “In recent years, we have seen an exponential increase in the use of weak or poorly-granted patents by so-called patent trolls to file numerous patent infringement lawsuits against American businesses with the hopes of securing a quick payday.  Everyone from independent inventors, to start-ups, to mid- and large-sized businesses face this constant threat.” He also believes enactment of the Innovation Act is something central to U.S. competiveness, job creation, and the nation’s future economic security.

Subcommittee Chairman Coble remarked, “I’m pleased the House approved H.R. 3309, the Innovation Act.  This bipartisan proposal will curb the tide of egregious patent lawsuits.  By fortifying our patent system, we are creating more incentive for research and development, which will keep America on the cutting edge of new technologies and innovations.”

Representative DeFazio asserted: “…Patent trolls extract at least $29 billion a year from innovators. Today’s passage of the Innovation Act in the House brings us a step closer to stopping this lucrative extortion racket. I hope that the Senate will promptly take up this bipartisan bill.”

Michael Makin, President and CEO of Printing Industries of America, also weighed in on the new bill, declaring, “The future of print depends heavily on innovation and technology. Therefore, America’s printing and graphic communications industry applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for demonstrating its strong support for rooting out the ‘patent trolls’ so that printers large and small have the freedom to redefine print through technology while doing what print has always done best: creating jobs. Today’s vote is also a good day for bipartisanship in the nation’s capital. Printing Industries of America looks forward to continuing to support bipartisan legislative efforts to address patent litigation reform as the effort now moves to the Senate.”