CENTER FOR INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 22, 2018
Contact: 703-535-5836 or info@cfif.org

Coalition Urges Support of the STRONGER Patents Act of 2017

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a letter sent to Congress today, a coalition of nearly two dozen conservative and free market organizations, led by the Center for Individual Freedom (CFIF), urged support of the STRONGER Patents Act of 2017 (S.1390), bipartisan legislation that will provide relief and support to American creators and innovators by restoring the historic strength of the U.S. patent system.

“The American patent system, once the global ‘Gold Standard,’ has been systematically weakened in recent years,” reads the letter. “A new government board created in 2012, the Patent and Trademark Appeals Board (PTAB), has been dubbed a ‘patent death squad’ by one former federal judge. The panel eliminates at least one patent claim in an astounding 81% of petitions it hears.”

The coalition goes on to note, “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s ranking of National Patent Systems of 45 countries in its 2017 Global IP Index reflects PTAB’s impact. As detailed in the Index, the U.S., which has historically had the strongest patent system in the world, has slipped to tenth place, in a dead tie with Hungary.”

The Stronger Patents Act of 2017 is sponsored by Senators Tom Cotton (R-AR) and Chris Coons (D-DE).

View the letter here CFIF-STRONGER-Patents-Act-Coalition-Letter.

Center for Individual Freedom – 815 King Street, Suite 303 – Alexandria, VA 22314