Lynn C. Woolsey: “the patent reform bill before us today is a necessary step to modernize and streamline our patent process to ensure…”

“the patent reform bill before us today is a necessary step to modernize and streamline our patent process to ensure American innovation will keep our country competitive. It's been over 50 years since we have updated our patent process. That's before the Internet, before personal computers, and before digital music. Actually, it's 5 years before they launched Sputnik. So, there can be no doubt that reforming the system to accommodate a new era of innovation is needed. Although this bill isn't perfect, I think that it does move the ball forward in terms of reforming the system. Clearly, additional patent reform is needed in the pharmaceutical and biomedical industry as there are many issues left unresolved by H.R. 1908. Hopefully these issues can be addressed in conference with the Senate. Mr. Chairman, I commend my colleagues on the Judiciary committee for all of their hard work on this bill, it's been fifty-five years in the making, and it's time for an update.”