Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Senator Coons introduces legislation to combat “patent trolling”

Delaware Public Media

Delaware’s junior Senator Chris Coons joined two of his Democratic colleagues in introducing a bill Wednesday aimed at reforming the nation’s patent system.

If passed, the STRONG Patent Act would address so-called “patent trolls” that buy patents in order to allege copyright infringement and win settlements in court.

The law would, among other things, make it harder to file patent suits and make rules for reviewing patents clearer.

The bill is a scaled-back version of other legislation passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives last session and reintroduced this year. That bill, known as the Innovation Act, would represent more of a broad overhaul of the U.S. patent system.

Coons says the Innovation Act favors larger companies while not adequately addressing the patent troll issue, adding the STRONG Patents Act would focus on strengthening the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Patent Office.

“My main message by introducing a positive alternative bill is to encourage my colleagues to legislative thoughtfully, to make sure we are getting input from all the different concerned individuals and organizations that rely on our patent system, and to make sure that while we are seeking to do some good, we also do no harm,” Coons says.

Senators Dick Durbin from Illinois and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, both Democrats, are co-sponsoring the patent reform bill. Coons says he is actively seeking Republican support for the proposed legislation and that his version provides a more level playing field for companies.

“I don’t think this is a partisan issue as much as it reflects what region of the country you’re from or what industry you think most drives innovation,” he says.

Senator Coons hopes the bill will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee this spring.