September 09, 2007

Microsoft and Apple Pushing Hard to Pass Patent Overhaul Bill

It's a little bit outside of our regular subject matter, but those of you in tech businesses may be interested in knowing that the patent system we've had for 50 years may soon come to an end. Via Forbes:

Despite worries that lawmakers still don't have the depth of knowledge on this complex issue to understand its implications, the House of Representatives is expected to pass a controversial and complex bill on Friday that would set the stage for the broadest overhaul of the U.S. patent system in more than 50 years.

"We'd like to see more debate, more hearings, more negotiation," says Marc-Anthony Signorino, director of technology policy for the National Association of Manufacturers, one of the country's largest industry groups. "Even a brain surgeon needs to be trained for a while to understand how the brain works."

As expected, the patent overhaul passed the House and now moves to consideration by the Senate. This overhaul is happening largely thanks to heavy lobbying by Microsoft, Apple and Dell, which see light at the end of the patent tunnel:
"This issue has been considered in three different Congresses," says Steve Elmendorf, spokesman for the pro-reform coalition that counts Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ), Dell (nasdaq: DELL - news - people ) and Apple (nasdaq: AAPL - news - people ) among its members. He notes that there have been numerous hearings and stakeholder meetings on the subject. Regarding lawmakers' grasp of the subject, he says, "That's a lot of what Congress does. They deal with complicated issues every day."
And that, folks, is the amazing thing about Congress. They often deal with complicated issues on fast-track time tables, and they sometimes get it partly right. Amazing...

By Ragnar Danneskjold, Typical Bitter Gun-Clinger at 02:57 PM | |