Summary

The USPTO is facing an epidemic amount of frivolous patents.  This degrades their ability to review strong and potentially important patents in a timely manner.  Although this particular change was struck down in Federal court, industry leaders need to work with the USPTO in order to strengthen the US patent system.   

Analysis

While I applaud the efforts of the USPTO to enact patent reform, I don't think that pending legislation will pass.  I believe that more consensus building between industry and the government will be required. 

It is sorely needed.  For example, check out the following listing of some oddball patents that the examiners must spend time with:

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/crazy.html

Unfortunately, the USPTO cannot simply reject inventions because they are stupid!

Mark Tapsak consults with leading institutions through GLG

Mark Tapsak, Assistant Professor

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Assistant Professor, BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

 
Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.