By Donald Zuhn --
Earlier today, the Manufacturing Alliance on Patent Policy (MAPP) let us know, through its media relations firm, that "well sourced rumors" have pegged Monday, March 2nd as the day on which the first of perhaps three patent reform bills will be introduced in the 111th Congress. The 110th Congress saw the introduction and/or passage of three patent reform bills: H.R. 1908, which the House passed in September of 2007; S. 1145, which was introduced by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) in April of 2007, and then removed from the calendar one year later; and S. 3600, which was introduced by Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) in September 2008. MAPP did not indicate which of the three bills might be introduced next week, but speculation has centered on the Senate, rather than the House, taking the lead on patent reform this time around, and Senator Leahy announced plans to reintroduce his bill earlier this month (see "US patent overhaul bill seen returning to Congress"). Senator Leahy has stated that his new bill will be "quite similar in some areas" to S. 1145.
For additional information regarding this and other related topics, please see:
• "
Senator Kyl’s Patent Reform Bill Introduced Today," September 25, 2008
• "
Senate Patent Reform Legislation -- One Old Bill and One New Bill," August 11, 2008
• "
Senate Patent Reform Bill: R.I.P.?" May 5, 2008
• "
Amendments to S. 1145," March 17, 2008
• "
Patent 'Reform' Bill Passes House of Representatives," September 9, 2007
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