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Congress working on patent overhaul

By Angie Drobnic Holan
December 29, 2009

Congress has been working on a major overhaul of patent law, but it’s not finished. A Senate bill received committee approval in the spring, but the legislation still hasn’t come up for a vote in the full chamber.


Congressional Quarterly

reported in October that the Obama administration was negotiating with members of Congress to finalize details of the legislation. The administration wants to give the Patent and Trademark Office new rulemaking authority and the authority to set fees, according to the report.

Because the legislation is pending, we rate this promise In the Works.

Our Sources


Thomas, S 515 , accessed Dec. 28, 2009

Congressional Quarterly, Commerce Department Negotiates Patent Law With Judiciary Chairmen , Oct. 30, 2009 (subscription required)

The New York Times, op-ed, Inventing a Better Patent System , Nov. 16, 2009

The New York Times, letters to the editor, A Fresh Look at Patents and Innovation , Nov. 28, 2009

PatentDocs blog, posts on patent legislation