IP Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on the Impact of Bad Patents

Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, July 13, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., the Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the impact of bad patents on American businesses. The America Invents Act (AIA) has helped to weed out many of the worst of the worst in terms of bad patents. However, many patents of questionable merit remain. The abuse of our litigation system by patent trolls using bad patents needs to end. This hearing will demonstrate the problems that such abuses continue to pose for American entrepreneurs and businesses trying to play by the rules, as well as how these abuses can be addressed. The witnesses for the hearing are:

• Mr. Tom Lee, Mapbox
• The Honorable Paul Michel, Former Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
• Mr. Sean Reilly, Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel, The Clearing House
• Ms. Julie Samuels, President of the Board of Directors, Engine

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) issued the following statements in advance of this hearing. Chairman Goodlatte: “Our nation has always led the way in innovation.  American invention is renowned throughout the world and our country’s citizens and our economy have thrived because of it.  Key to American innovation has been the protection of intellectual property and our patent system is at the heart of it. “The strength of the U.S. system relies on the granting of strong patents, ones that are truly novel and non-obvious inventions, those that are true innovations.  I look forward to hearing from all of our witnesses regarding the true impact of bad patents and potential solutions to this growing problem in order to ensure that we continue to promote American ingenuity, innovation, and jobs.” Subcommittee Chairman Issa: “Our patent system was intended to protect innovation, but a continuing deluge of overly broad patent approvals have allowed it to become abused too often to hinder innovation rather than promote it. Patent trolls have impeded new ideas, hampered competition and made it ever-more expensive for exciting new companies to bring their ideas to market. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses first-hand how bad patents are undermining innovation and the steps we can take to ensure the high-quality of our patent system.” This hearing will take place in 2141 Rayburn House Office Building and will be webcast live at judiciary.house.gov.  Camera crews wishing to cover must be congressionally credentialed and RSVP with the House Radio-TV Gallery at (202) 225-5214.