Eagle Forum |
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| September 4, 2007 |
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PROTECT AMERICA'S INVENTORS!
Tell Your Representative to vote NO on Patent "Reform" (H.R. 1908)!! In its first week back from the August recess, Congress is taking up an important issue — patent reform. Later this week, the House will take up H.R. 1908, the Patent Reform Act of 2007. Sponsored by Representatives Howard Berman (D-CA) and Lamar Smith (R-TX), this piece of legislation is a direct attack on the unique, successful American patent system created by the U.S. Constitution. The uniqueness of the American system is that "inventors" are granted “the exclusive right” to their inventions “for limited times” (usually about 17 years) after which the invention goes to the public domain. Exclusivity was assured because our courts would uphold the inventor’s patent against infringers, and the U.S. Patent Office would not disclose any information in a patent application unless and until the legal protection of a patent was granted.
Add it all up, and it is clear that the new Patent “Reform” bill is a big attack on the constitutional property rights of individual inventors and small enterprises. About a third of all U.S.-origin patent applications are filed by individual inventors, small companies, universities, and non-profit groups. If Congress wants to do something constructive for our patent system, Congress should reinstate the rule that the Patent Office may not publish a patent application until a patent is granted, and if it is denied the application must be returned to the inventor, secrets intact.
Congress should vote NO on H.R. 1908, the Patent Reform bill. Please call your Congressman today and urge him to vote NO!
Call Your Members of Congress in their Districts Today!
Capitol Switchboard: (202)-224-3121
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