Statement on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Efforts to Improve the Patent Review Process

Washington, D.C. – The Internet Association’s President and CEO, Michael Beckerman, issues the following statement regarding the recent House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet hearing on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s efforts to improve the patent review process:

“The Internet Association welcomes the steps taken by the Patent & Trademark Office to improve patent quality and administrative review procedures, as discussed in today’s hearing before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property. Although these measures will eventually reduce patent trolls’ arsenal of low-quality patents, the patent troll problem cannot be addressed solely by providing the PTO with additional resources to focus on patent quality. Nor is it enough to rely on court decisions that only demonstrate the pressing need for congressional action.

“The Internet Association continues to call for strong legislation focused on both improving patent quality and putting an end to litigation tactics that make the patent-troll business model a no-risk, high reward enterprise that extensively and needlessly damages innovation and legitimate businesses of all sizes. The Internet Association thanks Chairman Goodlatte, Congresswoman Lofgren, and the many members of House who worked hard to achieve overwhelming and bipartisan support for The Innovation Act. Despite substantial progress, the job remains undone. The Internet Association stands ready to work with the House and Senate to ensure that strong, meaningful patent reform legislation becomes a reality.”