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Senate Patent Reform Bill Delayed Until April

By William F. Heinze

According to Keith Perine in the February 13, 2008 issue of Congressional Quarterly (via Hall Wegner):

The Senate is not expected to take up a measure to overhaul patent laws until April at the earliest, as agreement on the complex legislation remains elusive. Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick J. Leahy, a Vermont Democrat who sponsored the legislation (S 1145), acknowledged Wednesday that it likely won?t be on the floor until after a two-week March recess.

"So far ?. there have not been substantive negotiations over complex provisions ? particularly a section dealing with damages awards in patent infringement lawsuits ? since the Judiciary panel approved the bill last July.

"'I think the people who want this bill have to weigh in very heavily,? said Orrin G. Hatch, R-Utah. ?. Lobbyists have predicted that the committee-approved bill does not have a filibuster-proof majority of 60 votes."

IPO Daily News adds:

The March congressional recess runs through March 28. Numerous groups are
lobbying the Senate for changes in the legislation. Senator Leahy is planning to redraft certain sections. IPO still expects an effort to pass S. 1145 in coming weeks, and IPO members should continue to be active in legislative discussions.

Full post as published by I/P Updates on February 14, 2008 (boomark / email).