NEWS from IEEE-USA
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IEEE-USA Supports Senate Patent Legislation Favoring Innovators
WASHINGTON (4 March 2015) — IEEE-USA supports the Support Technology and Research for Our Nation’s Growth (STRONG) Patents Act of 2015 introduced Tuesday by Sen. Christopher Coons (D-Del.) for including proposals to safeguard U.S. technology entrepreneurs.
“These individuals are substantially responsible for creating the largest percentage of new high-paying jobs,” IEEE-USA President Jim Jefferies said in a letter, “and are key contributors to economic recovery and U.S. competitiveness in the global markets.”
The STRONG Act favors innovators and patent holders and includes proposals that IEEE-USA has long called for, namely elimination of USPTO* fee diversion and an impact assessment of the patent system on the U.S. economy.
“Without carefully assessing the impact of changes on those who rely heavily on patent protection,” Jefferies said, “anything else could negatively affect the inventors, entrepreneurs, and U.S. small businesses who have built our innovation economy.”
The Support Technology and Research for Our Nation’s Growth Patents Act is cosponsored by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii).
The bill is supported by the Biotechnology Industry Association, Innovation Alliance, Medical Device Manufacturers Association, Association of American Universities, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, and the National Venure Capital Association.
The bill text is available at http://bit.ly/1DVzivJ.
For President Jefferies’ letter, go to http://www.ieeeusa.org/policy/policy/2015/030415.pdf.
* United States Patent and Trade Office
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