Press Releases

Today, Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, released a discussion draft designed to address some of the outstanding patent issues, including litigation abuse. Following the release of this discussion draft, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Congressman Melvin L. Watt (D-N.C.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet, issued the following statement:

“Litigation by patent assertion entities is an important issue for the Judiciary Committee’s consideration.  We believe that there are two questions the committee needs to consider.  We must first determine whether there is an abusive litigation problem by patent assertion entities that warrants a legislative response. If so, then we need to determine what would be the appropriate legislative response.  Once the Government Accountability Office releases its patent litigation report, as mandated by the America Invents Act, we will be in a better position to answer those questions.  We look forward to working on these matters with the chairman and our colleagues on the committee.”

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