The Public Record
Patrick Leahy is a former United States Senator from Vermont, serving from 1975 until 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the longest-serving senator in Vermont's history and held significant leadership roles, including President pro tempore of the Senate. Throughout his tenure, Leahy was known for his work on issues such as civil liberties, health care, and environmental protection. He played a key role in various legislative efforts, including the Violence Against Women Act and initiatives to reform the criminal justice system.
Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays on the bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The yeas and nays were ordered. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading…
Mr. President, the managers' amendment to the America Invents Act, adopted 97-2 on March 1, contained a rule of construction that nothing in section 14 of the act should be construed to imply that other business methods are patentable or…
Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum, with unanimous consent that the time be equally divided. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call…
Mr. President, since the Senate began this debate on the American Invents Act more than a week ago, I have talked about American ingenuity and innovation. As this debate comes to a close, I want to emphasize that this is legislation that…
That is correct. The proceeding has a higher threshold than current reexamination before the PTO will even undertake a review of the patent. So as a practical matter, a patent without any serious challenge to its validity would never be…
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that all remaining morning business time be yielded back. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, morning business is closed. ____________________
The America Invents Act transitions to a first-inventor- to-file process, as recommended by the administration, while retaining the important grace period that will protect universities and small inventors, in particular. We debated this…
Mr. President, American ingenuity and innovation have been a cornerstone of the American economy from the time Thomas Jefferson examined the first patent to today. The Founders recognized the importance of promoting innovation. The…
Certainly. If a petitioner provides evidence to the PTO and the PTO determines that the patent is on a ``covered business method patent'' then the PTO would institute a post-grant review of that patent. In this review, the PTO could…
That is correct. It is still unclear whether the subject matter of these patents qualifies as patentable subject matter under current law. Patents of low quality and dubious validity, as you know, are a drag on innovation because they…
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Check 21 Act Patents
I would. The patent may still be subject to the proceeding, but since the court did not hold the patent invalid or unforceable, it would not likely have an effect on the pending appeal.
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