Cornyn Applauds House Move Towards Patent Reform

Statement

U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) issued the following statement after House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (VA-6) introduced a comprehensive patent reform bill in the House of Representatives:

"Abusive patent litigation poses a direct threat to American innovators and job-creators. Chairman Goodlatte's bill offers a well-rounded approach to bring fairness to our patent system by deterring so-called "patent trolls,' while protecting the rights of responsible intellectual property holders.

"I want to extend my thanks and appreciation to Chairman Goodlatte for his attention to this issue, and for his focus on common sense solutions like heightened pleading, discovery reform and fee shifting. I look forward to continuing to work with him and others to get a bill through Congress and to the President's desk."

Background on Sen. Cornyn's Patent Abuse Reduction Act

Earlier this year, Sen. Cornyn introduced the Patent Abuse Reduction Act in the Senate. Abusive patent litigation, exemplified by a growing number of "patent trolls," threatens the innovation patents were created to protect. Patent litigation abuse saddles American innovators and job-creators, from start-ups to our nation's largest employers, with expensive litigation. It directs resources away from research, development, wages and economic growth.

The Patent Abuse Reduction Act will modernize patent litigation and protect innovators unfairly targeted by abusive patent litigation. The bill would require plaintiffs to disclose the substance of their claims and reveal their identities when they file their lawsuit; allow defendants to hale into court interested parties; bring fairness to the discovery process; and shift responsibility for the cost of litigation to the losing party. These reforms will deter patent litigation abusers without prejudicing the rights of responsible intellectual property holders.

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