Obama calls for patent reform in State of the Union speech

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2026

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Obama calls for patent reform in State of the Union speech

US President Barack Obama called for Congress to pass a patent reform bill during his State of the Union address

barack20obama.jpg

"Let’s pass a patent reform bill that allows our businesses to stay focused on innovation, not costly, needless litigation,” said Obama.

The House of Representatives in December passed the Innovation Act, introduced by Bob Goodlatte, by a vote of 325-91.

The Senate is considering its own legislation to tackle so-called patent trolls.

Goodlatte responded to Obama’s speech by saying he was encouraged by the president’s continued willingness to work with Congress to stop abusive patent litigation.

Businesses both large and small are affected by this growing problem and the enactment of the Innovation Act is central to US competiveness, job creation, and our nation’s future economic security. I look forward to working with President Obama and the Senate to see that patent litigation reform legislation is signed into law,” Goodlatte said.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Former professional cricketer Ben Scott talks through the challenges of building a legal tech platform, transitioning from sportsman to entrepreneur and why he believes he has found a gap in the market
The benefits of offering a range of services, innovative enforcement approaches, and gradual AI adoption are all helping SyCip Salazar Hernandez & Gatmaitan develop its IP offering
Nick Redfearn, head of enforcement at Rouse and a classic car enthusiast, explains the sudden viral appearance of classic car restomod parts from China and the impact of IP in this new trade
Our 2026 rankings for Western Europe, taken with historical data, reveal that some European IP markets hardly change – while others are more fluid
Selina Hinchliffe, head of commercial services at Shakespeare Martineau, reflects on rejecting Cambridge, leading through empathy, and why authenticity matters more than fitting in
US corporates are using the UPC, but much of that work still flows to European boutiques. Last week’s merger, as well as others, could alter that dynamic
Publicly listed Australian group IPH delivered on its promise to profoundly shake up the Canadian market. Four years on, rivals have had time to adapt
IP practitioners debate whether new guidelines will make it more difficult to challenge a patent
Varuni Paranavitane says she is excited to bring ‘rounded expertise’ to the firm, which will have a solicitor in its ranks for the first time
Lawyers adapting to AI-driven recommendations are being pushed to demonstrate expertise publicly rather than simply relying on a polished website
Gift this article