Patent Law Practice Center

Architect of America Invents Act announces retirement from House

Longtime Texas Representative Lamar Smith (R-TX), chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, & Technology, will be retiring from his duties on Capitol Hill and will not seek reelection for another term of service. Smith, a former Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and powerful member of the Republican leadership, will leave a void. His retirement marks the end of a 30-year tenure of public service and will immediately create a leadership void on the House committee responsible for overseeing our nation’s science and space policies.

Smith was first sworn into office at the U.S. House of Representatives in 1987 and has served the 21st congressional district of Texas, which includes areas of Austin and San Antonio and parts of the Texas Hill Country, since that time. During his time in Congress, Smith has been involved with the sponsorship of legislation related to technology including the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the STEM Education Act of 2014. Many readers of this blog will recall that Smith was an original co-sponsor to the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (AIA) of 2011, along with Democratic Representative Patrick Leahy (D-VT). That piece of legislation created the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), an Article I executive branch tribunal which is being challenged on constitutional grounds before the U.S. Supreme Court in Oil States Energy Services, LLC v. Greene’s Energy Group, LLC.

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Patent Reform Update: House Debates Patent Reform

On Wednesday, Representative Lamar Smith, introduced th House’s version of a patent reform bill to the House of Representatives.  The House bill is largely similar to the Senate Bill S. 23. passed earlier this month.  However, there are a few changes in the House bill that some industry representatives oppose, particulary on prior use rights and post-grant reviews.  Will this opposition reignite debate over patent reform?  Here is what the blogosphere has to say about the House’s patent reform bill and yesterday’s hearing…..

1.  Patent Overhaul Unveiled in U.S. House of Representatives (Bloomberg)

2. Patent Reform Introduced in House (Reuters)

3.  Sensenbrenner to Kappos: Prior User Rights is Poison Pill (IPWatchdog)

4. House Weighs in with its Version of Patent Reform (Morrison Foerster)

5.  House patent reform bill sparks debate (EEtimes)

6.  Deep Divisions Between Firms Large and Small Remain Over House Patent Reform Bill (BroadbandBreakfast.com)

7.  BIO Commends Launch of House Patent Reform Process (Sun Herald)

8.  Patent Reform 2011:  House of Representatives Bill No. H.R. 1249 (PatentlyO)