[Ecommerce] Inventors alliance on patent bill

[Manon Ress]

--
[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
Controversial Intellectual Property Rights Bill Stalls in Congress

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/usnw/20050801/pl_usnw/
controversial_intellectual_property_rights_bill_stalls_in_congress103_xm
l

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 /U.S. Newswire/ -- An intellectual property rights
bill that was expected by many earlier this year to easily glide
through Congress has stalled. Since the Patent Reform Act (HR 2795)
has failed to meet expectations, a handful of the bill's early
supporters are suggesting the bill die in committee.

Authored by Rep. Lamar Smith (news, bio, voting record) (R-Texas),
the chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual
Property, the bill has had the opposite effect than members of
Congress had originally intended. When the bill was introduced on
June 8 it was heralded by Rep. Smith as a silver bullet, designed to
enhance the nation's patent system. Opponents of the controversial
bill argued the bill would dull America's intellectual edge,
disadvantage the nation's small businesses, cost Americans jobs and
stifle individual ingenuity.



"Behind closed doors, businesses, small and large are fighting tooth
and nail to either gut or kill this controversial bill," said Ron
Riley, president of the Professional Inventors Alliance. "Many
industries directly or indirectly affected by patents, such as high-
tech, pharmaceuticals, bio-tech and independent inventors would
rather see the legislation die on the vine or heavily gutted."

In an effort to keep the controversial bill moving as scheduled in
Congress, Sen. Orin Hatch (R-Utah) held an odd and impromptu one-man
Judiciary Committee Hearing on July 26. Following the weak showing of
interest for the bill in the Senate, rumors circulated on Capitol
Hill that Rep. Smith planned to hold a quick mark-up of the bill on
Friday July 29, just hours before Congress' annual August Recess
vacation, but he failed to muster support.

"In an attempt to save the highly controversial and heavily crippled
bill, instead of a mark up, the House subcommittee is back-tracking.
It is reported to be planning a hearing around the first part of
September," said Riley. "Committee's often abruptly cancel
congressional mark ups, such as in this case and instead schedule
hearings in an attempt to regain support for a bill."

The Professional Inventors Alliance USA ( http://www.piausa.org ),
based in Washington, D.C. represents several thousand U.S. inventors.
The group was founded more than a decade ago to protect American
invention and to encourage innovation.

http://www.usnewswire.com/



-0-