Howard Berman: “Mr. Chairman, H.R. 1561 is a wonderful illustration of the principle that something does not have to be interesting to…”

“Mr. Chairman, H.R. 1561 is a wonderful illustration of the principle that something does not have to be interesting to be important. This bill is of critical importance to the health of our information economy. Intangible property, such as patents, trademarks and copyrights, now constitute well over 50 percent of the assets of U.S. corporations, both large and small. Most of the great advances in pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, biotechnology, and Internet fields began as patented inventions. Patent protection played a critical role in the creation and dissemination of inventions from the telephone to fiberoptics, from injectable insulin to laser eye surgery. The Patent and Trademark Office, which issues both patents and trademarks, has a critical role to play in creating and securing these assets. By facilitating many needed reforms, H.R. 1561 ensures that the PTO plays a positive role in stimulating our information economy, rather than becoming an obstacle to it. Furthermore, H.R. 1561 does not saddle the U.S. taxpayer with the cost of these reforms.”