Patent Law Weblog
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- Argentina Repeals Pharmaceutical Patent Examination Guidelines
- USPTO Moves to Protect Design Rights for Digital Innovations
- Judicial Conduct and Disability Committee Has Its Say, Denies Judge Newman’s Latest Request for Review
- PTAB Issues Judgment on Priority in CRISPR Interference
- Parties File Supplemental Priority Statements in CRISPR Interference
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Category: Patent Legislation
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By Kevin E. Noonan — The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) issued two press releases today, concerning the "patent reform" bill pending in the Senate (S. 1145) and District Court Judge Cacheris’ decision in Tafas/GSK v. Dudas. In the first press release, BIO President and CEO Jim Greenwood (at left) responded to the claims…
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By Donald Zuhn — Last Friday, Herbert Wamsley, the Executive Director of the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), sent out an "Urgent IPO Legislative Alert" to IPO members, urging them to contact their Senators to oppose the Applicant Quality Submission (AQS) provision of the Senate patent reform bill (S. 1145). According to the…
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By Donald Zuhn — In an Op-Ed piece appearing in last Saturday’s edition of The Boston Globe, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc. Chief Executive Officer Dr. John Maraganore (at right) wrote about a "perfect storm" that is building against biomedical patent protection. In an article entitled, "Good for iPods, but bad for patients," Dr. Maraganore…
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By Kevin E. Noonan — Senator Leahy (at right), reportedly determined to bring S. 1145, the Senate’s patent "reform" bill to the Senate floor for a vote after the spring recess, on Friday released a number of proposed amendments to the bill. Rather than evincing an appreciation of the seriousness of the opposition…
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By Donald Zuhn — In 2007, patent reform and biologics legislation became front burner issues. Not surprisingly, this did not escape the notice of many biotech and pharmaceutical companies, and for the past few months we have been paying close attention to reports concerning the lobbying efforts of such companies. We have already…
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By Kevin E. Noonan — Harry Manbeck, name partner of the Rothwell, Figg, Ernst and Manbeck firm and former Commissioner of the Patent and Trademark Office (1990-1992) has written a letter to Senators Leahy (D-VT) and Specter (R-PA), chairman and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee. The letter concerns provisions of S. 1145,…
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By Kevin E. Noonan — The patent community got its biggest scare in quite a while late last year, when a rules package thought to be dead for almost a year was released on August 21, 2007 (see "New Continuation and Claims Rules Published"). And even then, initially the only member of our…
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By Donald Zuhn — Last month, we noted that Millennium Pharmaceuticals spent $1.28 million in 2007 lobbying Congress and the Department of Commerce on patent reform and biologics legislation. Under federal law, lobbyists are required to disclose activities and expenditures that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches. Since the news…
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By Donald Zuhn — Last week, we reported on appearances by Jon Dudas, the Undersecretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and Alan Kasper, the First Vice President of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), at an oversight hearing on the USPTO held by the…
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By Donald Zuhn — Yesterday, we reported on the oversight hearing on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office held by the House Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property. The Subcommittee heard statements from Jon Dudas, the Undersecretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; Robin…
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