f
`CONCLUSION OF MORNING
`BUSINESS
`The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning
`business is closed.
`
`S1360
`March 8, 2011
`CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE
`bill that we passed last year. Well,
`The assistant bill clerk proceeded to
`So if you vote for H.R. 1, you are cut-
`call the roll.
`what does that mean? Well, that means
`ting student aid. If you vote for H.R. 1,
`Mr. LEAHY. I ask unanimous con-
`right now, in law, because of the Af-
`you are going to slash job training pro-
`sent that the order for the quorum call
`fordable Care Act we passed last year,
`grams. The House bill that came over,
`be rescinded.
`kids can stay on their parents’ policy
`H.R. 1, completely eliminates Federal
`The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
`until they are age 26. That would be
`funding for adult training, dislocated
`objection, it is so ordered.
`gone. The question would be, the ones
`worker assistance and youth training
`who got on before this, will they be
`programs, completely eliminates it.
`able to stay on? But I can tell you, no
`These programs provide job training
`new kids would ever be allowed to stay
`and reemployment services to about 8
`on their parents’ policy until they are
`million Americans every year, 8 mil-
`age 26.
`lion. They just do away with it.
`If you vote for H.R. 1, you are voting
`We put in—and as you know, it is in
`to slash the community services block
`law right now—that an insurance com-
`grant. Well, they cut about $305 million
`pany cannot impose a lifetime limit on
`from that. That provides services to
`individuals. That was in the bill last
`some of our lowest income people and
`year. That would be gone. They can
`elderly. If you vote for H.R. 1, you are
`start reinstituting lifetime limits and
`voting to cut investments in infra-
`annual limits.
`Also we had a provision in the bill
`structure, highway funding, sewer and
`that provided for a medical loss provi-
`drinking water funds, and rural eco-
`sion. Let me try to explain that.
`nomic development funding because
`In our bill we said insurers and
`H.R. 1 slashes community development
`health insurance companies have to
`block grants by 62 percent.
`pay at least 80 cents of every dollar of
`Now, I say go out and talk to your
`premium they collect on health care
`mayors, talk to your city council, talk
`rather than profits, bonuses, overhead,
`to your boards of supervisors in your
`fancy buildings, and corporate jets and
`counties. Ask them if they can take a
`all of that. They had to pay—80 cents
`62-percent cut in their community de-
`of every premium dollar has to go for
`velopment block grants and what it is
`health care. It is done away with under
`going to mean to them.
`Well, I cannot help but also speak to
`H.R. 1. We cannot enforce that at all.
`So, again, for those who have seen
`my own constituents in Iowa about
`benefits to themselves from the health
`what this means for my own State. If
`care bill we passed, whether it is keep-
`H.R. 1, the House bill which passed the
`ing their kids on their policy or elderly
`House, if it were to be passed and en-
`people now who get free mammograms
`acted
`into
`law—well, I mentioned
`and free colonoscopies and a free
`about the cuts that we are having in
`health checkup every year with no
`the Job Corps. It would basically kill
`copays, no deductibles, that ends. That
`the Denison, IA, Job Corps Center,
`ends with H.R. 1.
`which employs 163 people. It provides
`So the bill passed by the House is
`training to 450 at-risk students each
`just, as I said, bad policy, and it is bad
`year, and we have a new Job Corps Cen-
`values. It is not the values of our coun-
`ter just being built, just being opened
`try, and I hope the Senate will re-
`in Ottumwa. That will probably just
`soundingly—resoundingly—defeat H.R.
`come to a screeching halt. It is sup-
`1, consign it to the scrap heap of his-
`posed to be opening later this year.
`It would shut down at least the com-
`tory, the history of ill-advised ideas, of
`munity health center in Centerville,
`ill-advised programs. There have been
`IA. That is H.R. 1. H.R. 1 would be cut-
`a lot of them that have come along in
`ting down the community services
`the history of this country.
`Fortunately, I think the Congress in
`block grant and would shut down the
`most instances has turned them down,
`Red Rock Community Action Agency
`and we moved ahead. We can’t afford to
`serving Boone, Jasper, Warren, Marion,
`go backward. H.R. 1 would do that. It
`and rural Polk County.
`H.R. 1, as I mentioned, would com-
`would take this country back. We
`pletely eliminate funding for job train-
`would lose jobs. It would cut kids out
`ing programs, which assisted more
`of getting an education, close down
`than 35,000 Iowans in the last year. As
`Head Start centers. It would widen
`I mentioned, it would slash Pell grants
`that gulf between the rich and the
`for our kids who go to all of our col-
`poor. We can’t continue to go down
`leges in Iowa, the private not-for-prof-
`that road. We don’t want to wind up
`its and our Regents institutions. Two
`another Third World country where we
`thousand low-income Iowa kids who
`have a few at the top and everybody at
`now attend Head Start would be cut
`the bottom and nobody in between. The
`off.
`middle class built this country, and we
`Lastly, it is not only just the cuts
`cannot continue to erode the middle
`and the slashes to these vital programs
`class. That is what H.R. 1 would do,
`which will increase unemployment and
`erode the middle class and widen the
`send us back into another recession,
`gulf between the rich and poor.
`there are riders in this bill, what we
`I hope the Senate will recognize H.R.
`call legislative riders, that are per-
`1 for what it is, a detriment, a body
`nicious. They do terrible damage to our
`blow to our recovery efforts. I hope the
`country.
`Senate will resoundingly defeat it.
`For example—just one—there is a
`I yield the floor and suggest the ab-
`rider in the bill that says no money
`sence of a quorum.
`can be used or spent to continue the
`The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
`implementation of the health reform
`clerk will call the roll.
`
`f
`PATENT REFORM ACT OF 2011—
`Continued
`Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, since the
`Senate began this debate on the Amer-
`ican Invents Act more than a week
`ago, I have talked about American in-
`genuity and innovation. As this debate
`comes to a close, I want to emphasize
`that this is legislation that should pro-
`mote innovation, help create jobs, and
`help energize the economy as we con-
`tinue our recovery. This legislation can
`be a key part of a jobs agenda. We can
`help unleash innovation an promote
`American invention, all without adding
`a penny to the deficit. This is common-
`sense, bipartisan legislation.
`Innovation has been a cornerstone of
`the American economy from the time
`Thomas Jefferson examined the first
`patent to today. The Founders recog-
`nized the importance of promoting in-
`novation. A number were themselves
`inventors. The Constitution explicitly
`grants Congress the power to ‘‘promote
`the progress of science and useful arts,
`by securing for limited times to . . . in-
`ventors the exclusive right to their re-
`spective . . . discoveries.’’ The discov-
`eries made by American inventors and
`research institutions, commercialized
`by American companies, and protected
`and promoted by American patent laws
`have made our system the envy of the
`world. The President has spoken all
`year about the need to win the future
`by out innovating our competition.
`This bill can play a key role in that ef-
`fort.
`I commended Austan
`Yesterday,
`Goolsbee, the chair of the President’s
`Council of Economic Advisers, for his
`white board presentation this week on
`the importance of patent reform to
`help America win the global competi-
`tion and create jobs. The creation of
`more than 220,000 jobs in the private
`sector last month, the creation of 1.5
`million jobs over the last 12 months,
`and the unemployment rate finally
`being reduced to 8.9 percent are all
`signs that the efforts we have made
`over the last 2 years to stave off the
`worst recession since the Great Depres-
`sion are paying off and the economic
`recovery is taking hold. The almost
`full percent point drop in the unem-
`ployment rate over the last 3 months is
`the largest decline in unemployment
`since 1983. Despite interruptions of eco-
`nomic activity in many parts of the
`country caused by winter weather over
`the last months and in recent days, de-
`spite the extraordinary rise in oil
`
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`

`S1361
`March 8, 2011
`CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE
`I also thank the many individuals,
`prices, the Dow Jones industrial aver-
`tion that can create jobs and help our
`companies, associations and coalitions
`age has climbed back to over 12,000
`economy through common sense meas-
`that have helped with this effort. This
`from a low point of 6,500. Passage of
`ures. That is what this bill can do. It
`legislation has been supported by both
`the America Invents Act should help
`relies on not one dollar of taxpayer
`business and labor, including the Na-
`bolster our economic recovery and
`money. Let me emphasize, not a dime
`tional Association of Manufacturers,
`keep us on the right path toward busi-
`in taxpayer money is spent on the Pat-
`the United Steelworkers, the AFL–CIO,
`ness development and job creation.
`ent and Trademark Office, PTO, re-
`the Association of American Univer-
`As we began this debate, I referred
`forms. They are all funded by patent
`sities, the American Bar Association,
`back to the President’s State of the
`fees, not taxes.
`the Association of Public and Land-
`Union address and his challenge to the
`Innovation drives the Nation’s econ-
`Grant Universities, the Association of
`Nation to out-innovate, out-build and
`omy, and that entrepreneurial spirit
`American Medical Colleges, the Asso-
`out-educate our global competitors.
`can only be protected by a patent sys-
`ciation of University Technology Man-
`Enacting the America Invents Act is a
`tem that promotes invention and spurs
`agers, the American Council on Edu-
`key to meeting this challenge. Reform-
`new ideas. We need to reform our pat-
`cation, the Council on Government Re-
`ing the Nation’s antiquated patent sys-
`ent system so that these innovations
`lations, PhRMA, BIO, the Intellectual
`tem will promote American innova-
`can more quickly get to market. A
`Property Owners Association,
`the
`tion, create American jobs, and grow
`modernized patent system—one that
`American Intellectual Property Law
`America’s economy. I thank the Presi-
`puts American entrepreneurs on the
`Association, the Coalition for 21st Cen-
`dent and his administration for their
`same playing field as those throughout
`tury Patent Reform, the Association
`help and support for the Leahy-Hatch-
`the world—is a key to that success.
`for Competitive Technology, the Coali-
`Grassley America Invents Act. Com-
`This is an idea that cuts across the po-
`tion for Patent and Trademark Infor-
`merce Secretary Locke has been a
`litical spectrum.
`mation Dissemination, IBM, General
`During Senate debate over the last
`strong partner in our efforts, and Di-
`Electric, Eli Lilly and Company, Bose
`week our bill has been improved by a
`rector Kappos of the Patent and Trade-
`Corporation, Johnson and Johnson, 3M,
`number of Senators who have contrib-
`mark Office has been an indispensable
`General Mills, Honeywell, Monsanto,
`uted amendments. Senators BENNET,
`source of wise counsel.
`Motorola, Cargill, Inc., Caterpillar,
`The America Invents Act will keep
`COONS, SCHUMER, MENENDEZ, PRYOR,
`Enventys, Abbott, Astra Zeneca,
`America in its longstanding position at
`STABENOW, BAUCUS, BINGAMAN, COBURN
`AdvaMed, Air Liquide, Bayer, Beckman
`the pinnacle of innovation. This bill
`and KIRK have all contributed, and I
`Coulter, Boston
`Scientific, BP,
`will establish a more efficient and
`thank them for working with us. Sen-
`Bridgestone American Holdings, Inc.,
`streamlined patent system that will
`ator CARDIN attempted to offer ger-
`Bristol-Myers Squibb, the California
`improve patent quality and limit un-
`mane amendments, and I regret that
`Healthcare Institute, the Colorado Bio-
`necessary and counterproductive liti-
`these were blocked.
`Science Association, Cummins, The
`I thank our ranking Republican on
`gation costs, while making sure no par-
`Dow Chemical Company, DuPont, East-
`the committee and the comanager of
`ty’s access to court is denied.
`man Chemical Company, ExxonMobil,
`this measure, Senator GRASSLEY, and
`The America Invents Act is the prod-
`Genentech, Genzyme, GlaxoSmith-
`his staff, Kolan Davis and Rita Lari,
`uct of eight Senate hearings over the
`Kline, the Healthcare Institute of New
`for their dedication to this effort. I
`last three Congresses. Our bill is the
`Jersey, Henkel Corporation, Hoffman-
`commend Senator HATCH for sticking
`product of years of work and com-
`LaRoche, Illinois Tool Works, Inter-
`with it for these many years, and Sen-
`promise. The Senate Judiciary Com-
`national Game Technology, Kodak,
`ator KYL for helping get this done.
`mittee has reported patent reform leg-
`Medtronic, Merck & Co.,
`Inc.,
`I also extend my personal thanks, as
`islation to the Senate in each of the
`Millenium Pharmaceuticals, Milliken
`well, to Senator KLOBUCHAR of Min-
`last three Congresses, this year, unani-
`and Company, Northrop Grumman,
`nesota who was active during com-
`mously. And the House has seen efforts
`Novartis, PepsiCo., Inc., Pfizer, Procter
`mittee consideration and helped man-
`over the same period led by Congress-
`& Gamble, SanDisk Corporation,
`age this legislation effort in the Sen-
`men LAMAR SMITH of Texas and HOW-
`Sangamo BioSciences, Inc., United
`ate. She has been outstanding.
`ARD BERMAN of California. The legisla-
`Technologies, USG Corporation, the
`The Senate’s action today could not
`tion we are acting on today, in fact, is
`Virginia Biotechnology Association,
`have been accomplished without the
`structured on the original House bill
`Weyerhaeuser, the American Institute
`hard work of many dedicated staffers. I
`and contains many of the original pro-
`for CPAs, the American Institute of
`would like to thank in particular the
`visions.
`Certified Public Accountants, the Tax
`steadfast work of Aaron Cooper of my
`From the beginning, we recognized
`Justice Network USA, the New Rules
`Judiciary Committee staff. Aaron has
`the need for a more effective and effi-
`for Global Finance, the American Col-
`spent countless hours in meetings and
`cient patent system, one that improves
`lege of Tax Counsel, Consumer Action,
`briefings, with Members, other staff,
`patent quality and provides incentives
`The American College of Trust and Es-
`and interested parties, working to help
`for entrepreneurs to create jobs. A bal-
`tate Counsel, the Partnership for Phil-
`me ensure that the America Invents
`anced and efficient intellectual prop-
`anthropic Planning, Global Financial
`Act preserved the meaningful reforms
`erty system that rewards invention
`Integrity, the International Associa-
`we have been working toward since
`and promotes innovation through high
`tion for Registered Financial Consult-
`2005. I would also like to thank Ed
`quality patents is crucial to our Na-
`ants, the National Association of En-
`Pagano, my chief of staff, and Bruce
`tion’s economic prosperity and job
`rolled Agents, USPIRG, the Certified
`Cohen, my chief counsel, who have
`growth. That is how we win the fu-
`Financial Planner Board of Standards,
`worked on this issue since the start, as
`ture—by unleashing the American in-
`the Financial Planning Association,
`well as Susan Davies who served as my
`ventive spirit. This bill, the America
`the American Association of Attorney-
`chief Intellectual Property counsel
`Invents Act, will allow our inventors
`Certified Public Accountants, the Citi-
`through the formative stages of this
`and innovators to flourish.
`zens for Tax Justice, the National
`legislative effort. Erica Chabot, Curtis
`It is important to our country’s con-
`Treasury Employees Union, the Inde-
`LeGeyt and Scott Wilson of my Judici-
`tinued economic recovery, and to our
`pendent Community Bankers of Amer-
`ary Committee staff also deserve
`successfully competing in the global
`ica, and numerous other organizations
`thanks for their committed work on
`economy. America needs a 21st century
`and companies representing all sectors
`this legislation.
`patent system to lead. The last exten-
`of the patent community that have
`I also commend the hardworking
`sive reform of our patent system was
`been urging action on patent reform
`Senate floor staff, Tim Mitchell and
`nearly 60 years ago. It is time.
`proposals for years.
`Trish Engle, as well as Dave Schiappa,
`While the Congress debates spending
`The America Invents Act will accom-
`and the staffs of other Senators, in-
`and budget measures in an often too
`plish 3 important goals, which have
`cluding Tim Molino, Joe Matal, and
`partisan manner, the American people
`been at the center of the patent reform
`Matt Sandgren, for their dedicated ef-
`are craving—and the American econ-
`debate from the beginning: It will im-
`prove and harmonize operations at the
`forts.
`omy is demanding—bipartisan legisla-
`
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`

`S1362
`March 8, 2011
`CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE
`PTO; it will improve the quality of pat-
`ventors, for our consumers. Working
`The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
`together, we can smooth the path for
`ents that are issued; and it will provide
`objection, it is so ordered.
`more
`interesting—and great—Amer-
`more certainty in litigation. In par-
`Mr. REID. Mr. President, with this
`ican inventions. That is what this bi-
`ticular, the legislation will move this
`agreement, I ask unanimous consent
`partisan, comprehensive patent reform
`Nation’s patent system to a first-in-
`that the cloture vote with respect to
`bill will do. No one claims that ours is
`ventor-to-file system, make important
`the motion to proceed to H.R. 1 be viti-
`a perfect bill. It is a compromise that
`quality enhancement mechanisms, and
`ated.
`will make key improvements in the
`provide the PTO with the resources it
`The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
`patent system. Having coordinated
`needs to work through its backlog by
`objection, it is so ordered.
`with the leaders in the House through
`providing it with fee setting authority,
`Mr. REID. Mr. President, even
`this process, I hope that the House will
`subject to oversight. The America In-
`though there have been a few turns in
`look favorably on our work and adopt
`vents Act provides the tools the PTO
`the road, we are at the place where we
`this measure so that it can be sent to
`needs to separate the inventive wheat
`need to be. We need to be able to show
`the President without delay and its im-
`from the chaff, which will help business
`the American people where we are on
`provements can take effect in order to
`bring new products to market and cre-
`these two measures. I express my ap-
`encourage American innovation and
`ate jobs.
`preciation to my friend, the Republican
`promote American invention.
`Innovation has always been at the
`leader. As I said, things don’t always
`I suggest the absence of a quorum.
`heart of America and American suc-
`work smoothly around here, but they
`The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
`cess. From the founding of our Nation,
`usually work. Now we are at a point
`clerk will call the roll.
`we recognized the importance of pro-
`where we can vote on these two meas-
`The assistant bill clerk proceeded to
`moting and protecting innovation, and
`ures which is what we need to do.
`call the roll.
`so the Constitution explicitly grants
`The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
`Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent
`Congress the power to ‘‘promote the
`that the order for the quorum call be
`the previous order, amendment No. 152
`progress and science and useful arts, by
`rescinded.
`is withdrawn.
`securing for limited times to . . . in-
`The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
`Under the previous order, amend-
`ventors the exclusive right to their re-
`objection, it is so ordered.
`ment No. 143 is modified with the
`spective . . . discoveries.’’ The patent
`Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan-
`changes at the desk.
`system plays a key role in encouraging
`imous consent the Reid amendment
`The amendment, as modified, is as
`innovation and bringing new products
`No. 152 be withdrawn; that the Reid
`follows:
`to market. The discoveries made by
`amendment No. 143 be modified with
`(Purpose: To include public institutions of
`American inventors and research insti-
`the changes at the desk; the Senate
`higher education in the definition of a
`tutions, commercialized by our compa-
`proceed to vote on the amendment, as
`micro entity)
`nies, and protected and promoted by
`modified, with no amendments in order
`On page 93, before line 18, insert the fol-
`our patent laws have made our system
`prior to the vote; that there then be 30
`lowing:
`the envy of the world.
`minutes of debate equally divided be-
`‘‘(d) STATE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDU-
`High quality patents are the key to
`tween the two managers or their des-
`CATION.—
`our economic growth. They benefit
`ignees; that S. 23 be read a third time;
`‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this sec-
`both patent owners and users who can
`that a budgetary pay-go statement be
`tion, a micro entity shall include an appli-
`be more confident in the validity of
`read; the Senate then proceed to a vote
`cant who certifies that—
`issued patents. Patents of low quality
`on passage of the bill, as amended; and
`‘‘(A) the applicant’s employer, from which
`and dubious validity, by contrast, en-
`the motions to reconsider be consid-
`the applicant obtains the majority of the ap-
`able patent trolls who extort unreason-
`plicant’s income, is a State public institu-
`ered made and laid upon the table with
`able licensing fees from legitimate
`tion of higher education, as defined in sec-
`no intervening action or debate.
`tion 102 of the Higher Education Act of 1965
`businesses, and constitute a drag on in-
`Further, I ask unanimous consent
`(20 U.S.C. 1002); or
`novation. Too many dubious patents
`that at 12 noon Wednesday, March 9,
`‘‘(B) the applicant has assigned, granted,
`also unjustly cast doubt on truly high
`the Senate proceed to the consider-
`conveyed, or is under an obligation by con-
`quality patents.
`ation of Calendar No. 14, H.R. 1, the De-
`tract or law to assign, grant, or convey, a li-
`After 6 years of debate and discus-
`fense appropriations long-term con-
`cense or other ownership interest in the par-
`sion, more than a dozen hearings and
`tinuing resolution for fiscal year 2011;
`ticular application to such State public in-
`mark up sessions, and countless hours
`that there be 3 hours of debate on H.R.
`stitution.
`of member and staff meetings with two
`‘‘(2) DIRECTOR’S AUTHORITY.—The Director
`1 and the Democratic alternative, the
`may, in the Director’s discretion, impose in-
`presidential administrations and inter-
`Inouye substitute amendment No. 149,
`come limits, annual filing limits, or other
`ested parties across the spectrum, the
`with the time equally divided between
`limits on who may qualify as a micro entity
`Senate is finally acting to make the
`the two leaders or their designees prior
`pursuant to this subsection if the Director
`first meaningful, comprehensive re-
`to a vote on passage of H.R. 1; that the
`determines that such additional limits are
`forms to the nation’s patent system in
`vote on passage be subject to a 60-vote
`reasonably necessary to avoid an undue im-
`nearly 60 years. The Senate debate has
`threshold; that if the bill achieves 60
`pact on other patent applicants or owners or
`now extended for more than a week.
`affirmative votes, the bill be read a
`are otherwise reasonably necessary and ap-
`Passage of the America Invents Act
`third time and passed; that if the bill
`propriate. At least 3 months before any lim-
`its proposed to be imposed pursuant to this
`demonstrates what we can accomplish
`does not achieve 60 affirmative votes,
`paragraph shall take effect, the Director
`when we cast aside partisan rhetoric,
`the majority leader be recognized to
`shall inform the Committee on the Judiciary
`offer the Inouye substitute amendment
`and focus on working together for the
`of the House of Representatives and the
`No. 149; the Senate then proceed to a
`American people and for our future.
`Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate of
`It has been almost 6 years since
`vote on the substitute amendment;
`any such proposed limits.’’.
`Chairman SMITH and Congressman
`that the substitute amendment be sub-
`The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
`BERMAN introduced the first version of
`ject to a 60-vote threshold; if the sub-
`question is on agreeing to amendment
`patent reform legislation in 2005, but
`stitute amendment achieves 60 affirma-
`No. 143, as modified.
`the structure and guiding principles of
`tive votes, the substitute amendment
`The amendment (No. 143), as modi-
`the legislation remain the same. The
`be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be
`fied, was agreed to.
`read a third time and passed; if the
`bill will speed the process by which the
`Mr. COBURN. I wish to express my
`substitute amendment does not achieve
`Patent Office considers applications
`opposition to Reid amendment No. 143,
`60 affirmative votes, H.R. 1 be returned
`and should improve the quality of pat-
`as modified. I do not believe public in-
`to the calendar; that no motions or
`ents it issues.
`stitutions of higher education, or any
`Innovation and economic develop-
`amendments be in order to the sub-
`entity, should be carved out of the defi-
`ment are not uniquely Democratic or
`stitute amendment or to the bill prior
`nition of micro entity in the under-
`Republican objectives, so we worked
`to the votes; further, that all of the
`lying legislation. Had a rollcall vote
`together to find the proper balance for
`above occur with no intervening action
`occurred, I would have voted no.
`or debate.
`America—for our economy, for our in-
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`

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`S1363
`March 8, 2011
`CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE
`ods of conducting business, unlike in-
`Mr. LEAHY. That is correct. The pro-
`Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I suggest
`formation about other patents, is often
`ceeding has a higher threshold than
`the absence of a quorum, with unani-
`not documented in patents or published
`current reexamination before the PTO
`mous consent that the time be equally
`in journals. This means a patent exam-
`will even undertake a review of the
`divided.
`The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
`iner has significantly less opportunity
`patent. So as a practical matter, a pat-
`objection, it is so ordered.
`than he might with a traditional pat-
`ent without any serious challenge to
`The clerk will call the roll.
`ent to weed out undeserving applica-
`its validity would never be subject to a
`The assistant bill clerk proceeded to
`tions. Unfortunately, that means the
`proceeding.
`call the roll.
`Mr. PRYOR. Would the Senator agree
`burden falls on private individuals and
`Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask
`that in a case in which the validity of
`an expensive court process to clean up
`unanimous consent that the order for
`the patent has been upheld by a dis-
`the mess.
`the quorum call be rescinded.
`The ability to easily obtain business
`trict court but the case remains on ap-
`The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
`method patents without a rigorous and
`peal, that this amendment would likely
`objection, it is so ordered.
`thorough review in the Patent Office
`not affect the pending appeal?
`Mr. LEAHY. I would. The patent may
`CHECK 21 ACT PATENTS
`has created a flood of poor quality
`Mr. PRYOR. I would like to clarify
`still be subject to the proceeding, but
`business method patents and a cottage
`some concerns I have about the Schu-
`since the court did not hold the patent
`industry of business method patent
`mer-Kyl program that was included in
`invalid or unforceable, it would not
`litigation. The Federal courts have rec-
`the managers’ amendment to the
`likely have an effect on the pending ap-
`ognized this problem, and indeed even
`America Invents Act, adopted on
`peal.
`the Supreme Court has begun to ad-
`Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I want
`March 1. I am specifically concerned
`dress it. In KSR Intl Co. v. Teleflex,
`to take the opportunity to explain fur-
`that this provision revives an amend-
`Inc. and Bilski v. Kappos, the Court ar-
`ther a few elements of the Schumer-
`ment that had been included in pre-
`ticulated a new standard for obvious-
`Kyl provision in the patent bill. The
`vious versions of the bill—that amend-
`ness and made clear that abstract busi-
`Transitional Program
`for business
`ment specifically targeted patents re-
`ness methods are not patentable. While
`method patents addresses a critical
`lated to the Check 21 Act and elimi-
`these legal developments are impor-
`problem in the patent world, and it is
`nated the ability of the holder of such
`tant, the leave in limbo the many pat-
`crucial that it be administered and im-
`patents to collect damages. Is that the
`ents that were issued by the PTO since
`plemented appropriately by both the
`purpose of the Schumer-Kyl language?
`State Street that are not in fact valid.
`Patent and Trademark Office and the
`Mr LEAHY. No, the amendment is
`Litigation over
`invalid patents
`courts.
`entirely different from the 2008 amend-
`places a substantial burden on U.S.
`Business method patents are the
`ment related to patents that place on
`courts and the U.S. economy. Business-
`bane of the patent world. The business
`tax on implementation of the Check 21
`method inventions generally are not
`method problem began in 1998 with the
`Act. The Schumer-Kyl program ad-
`and have not been patentable in coun-
`U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal
`dresses certain business method pat-
`tries other than the United States. In
`Circuit decision in State Street Bank &
`ents and does not target any specific
`order to reduce the burden placed on
`Trust Co. v. Signature Financial
`patents. The Schumer-Kyl program is
`courts and the economy by this back-
`Group, Inc. State Street created a sea-
`intended to provide a cost-effective al-
`and-forth shift in judicial precedent,
`change in the patentability of business-
`ternative to litigation to examine busi-
`the Schumer-Kyl transitional pro-
`methods, holding that any invention
`ness-method patents.
`ceeding authorizes a temporary admin-
`can be patented so long as it produces
`Mr. PRYOR. Am I correct then that
`istrative alternative
`for reviewing
`a ‘‘useful, concrete, and tangible re-
`the Schumer-Kyl program is simply
`business method patents.
`sult’’ and meets other requirements of
`It is important to clarify two ele-
`trying to address the problem of busi-
`the patent laws.
`ments of the Schumer-Kyl program’s
`ness method patents of dubious valid-
`State Street launched an avalanche
`operation in particular. First, there is
`ity that are commonly associated with
`of patent applications seeking protec-
`the issue of how a district court should
`the Federal Circuit’s 1998 decision in
`tion for common business practices.
`treat a motion for a stay of litigation
`State Street Bank v. Signature?
`The quality of these business method
`Mr. LEAHY. That is correct. It is
`in the event the PTO initiates a pilot
`patents has been much lower than that
`still unclear whether the subject mat-
`program. Second, there is the issue of
`of other patents, as Justice Kennedy
`ter of these patents qualifies as patent-
`how the Federal circuit will treat in-
`noted in his concurring opinion in eBay
`able subject matter under current law.
`terlocutory appeals from stay deci-
`Inc. v. MercExchange. Justice Kennedy
`Patents of low quality and dubious va-
`sions. Finally, there is the issue of
`wrote about the ‘‘potential vagueness
`lidity, as you know, are a drag on inno-
`which patents should be considered to
`and suspect validity’’ of some of ‘‘the
`vation because they grant a monopoly
`be covered business method patents.
`burgeoning number of patents over
`The transition program created by
`right for an invention that should not
`business methods.’’ Commentators like
`the Schumer-Kyl amendment is de-
`be entitled to one under the patent
`Rochelle Dreyfuss have also lamented
`signed to