Patently lame

12 September 2011 By Reynolds Holding

The measure may discourage dodgy filings and square American rules with those abroad. But it hurts small inventors and fails to curb vague and overlapping patents. It’s a blown chance for real reform and probably means more infringement fights for the likes of Google and Apple.

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The U.S. Senate passed a patent reform bill on Sept. 8, the first overhaul of the patent system since 1952. The America Invents Act makes it easier to challenge faulty patents, gives the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office more power to set fees and grants patent rights to people who file first rather than come up with an invention first. Both houses of Congress have now passed the measure, and President Barack Obama is expected to sign it into law.

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