House Judiciary Committee to Hear Testimony from USPTO & Industry Reps
Tomorrow, the House Judiciary Committee will conduct a hearing on the “Innovation Act” (H.R. 9). Scheduled speakers include USPTO Director Lee, general counsel for BIO, and other in-house counsel. As most know, the Innovation Act is a re-presentation of the “Goodlatte Draft” that shot through the House in the waning days of 2013 only to die a slow death on the Senate side in 2014. Given last month’s introduction of a competing bill on the Senate side, and more bills promised from both houses, tomorrow will kick off a long and painful grind. Passage of anything substantial in 2015 is simply not happening. The last year of the Obama administration in 2016 will almost certainly present further political impediments.
Judging by the lineup, it is highly likely that the topic of the PTAB’s use of BRI will come up, usefulness of CBM (one would hope), as well as the recent hedge fund abuses. Should make for an interesting hearing.