Patent Law

The Patent Union

By Gary Odom and Jordan Kuhn

An brotherhood of unions forge opposition to patent tomfoolery in the Senate -

[P]rovisions contained in S. 1145, the Patent Reform Act of 2007, that we believe could undermine the competitiveness of U.S. industry and put our members' jobs at risk.

The missive was reportedly faxed to all senators. Its thrust -

We are particularly concerned about three areas in this proposed legislation: changes to how damages for infringement are calculated; changes to the post-grant procedures; and changes to whose pending applications get published prior to the grant of a patent. All of these changes increase the likelihood of American inventions being stolen and provide incentives for American manufacturers to simply license their technology for production overseas. This is unacceptable.

Signers:
    Building & Construction Trades Department (BCTD), AFL-CIO
    Communications Workers of America (CWA)
    Department for Professional Employees (DPE), AFL-CIO
    International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM)
    International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Ship Builders, Blacksmiths, Forgers & Helpers (IBB)
    International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT)
    International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE)
    International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)
    Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA)
    Metal Trades Department, AFL-CIO
    Patent Office Professional Association (POPA)
    United Association of Plumbers and Pipe Fitters (UA)
    UNITE HERE
    United Steelworkers (USW)

Full post as published by The Patent Prospector on February 07, 2008 (boomark / email).