Patent reform markup

A markup of sweeping legislation to update the U.S. patent system for the first time in 50 years remains on the Senate Judiciary Committee's agenda for June 21 after being held over last week to allow further deliberation. A letter from several Republican committee members to Committee Chair Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Ranking Member Arlen Specter, R-Penn., says additional discussion among members, staff, the Patent and Trademark Office, the Department of Justice, and stakeholders is needed. The bill has moved rapidly through both houses of Congress, with contentious provisions including mandatory apportionment of damages, post-grant opposition, the granting of broad rule-making authority to PTO, and possible amendment of the Inequitable Conduct Doctrine (1"The Pink Sheet," June 11, 2007, p. 8)...