ITI HAILS HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF PATENT REFORM LEGISLATION

07.18.2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) Vice President of Government Relations Josh Ackil commended the House Judiciary Committee for passage of HR 1908, the “Patent Reform Act of 2007,” on a voice vote.  The bill now moves to the House floor for consideration. 

“Today’s House Judiciary Committee vote builds important legislative momentum to restore balance and fairness to the United States’ patent system,” Ackil said.  “We urge House passage of HR 1908 before the August recess to ensure patent reform legislation is enacted this year.”

“ITI’s membership leads the innovation economy and includes seven of the top ten U.S. patent recipients of 2006, but there is widespread agreement the current patent system is broken.  Patents are intended to encourage and protect innovation, but problems with low quality patents and an increase in abusive patent litigation practices are negatively impacting the ability of our member companies to innovate. As a result, U.S. companies can face greater business uncertainty and economic risk compared to their foreign competitors and will be further harmed if the current system is not reformed.”

ABOUT ITI

The Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) represents the nation’s leading high-tech companies and is widely recognized as the tech industry's most effective lobbying organization in Washington.  ITI helps member companies achieve their policy objectives through building relationships with Members of Congress, Administration officials, and foreign governments; organizing industry-wide consensus on policy issues; and working to enact tech-friendly government policies.

###