By Christopher P. Singer --
The Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) today announced that its Board of Directors has adopted two resolutions, one against any legislation concerning willful patent infringement, and the other against any significant U.S. Patent and Trademark Office fee increases for fiscal year 2009. In its daily e-mail letter, the IPO stated that while it has supported, and will continue to support, adequate funding for the USPTO, in light of the current recession it would oppose any increases in patent fees beyond those dictated by an increase in the Consumer Price Index. Fee increases based on increases in the CPI are authorized. The Board's recommendation against legislation relating to reform of willful patent infringement represents a complete change from its earlier recommendations on the subject. The IPO explained that its changed position on this issue results from the Federal Circuit's decision in In re Seagate Technology, which addressed many of the difficulties concerning the law of willful infringement, making legislation on this issue unnecessary.
The full text of Resolutions, which were formally adopted on March 17, 2009, can be found here.
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