Some proposed fixes to the US patent system, but is it even broken?

The “Defend Innovation” whitepaper says overbroad and vague patents, combined with an insufficient review process by the USPTO, have hindered rather than supported innovation. The whitepaper concludes that the result is abuse by patent trolls and an explosion in software patents leading to a patent arms race.

The whole whitepaper is worth a read but I’ll save you some legwork and reveal the six fixes the EFF proposes:

• Passing measures that focus on strengthening patent quality – such as reaffirming limits on functional claiming and ending continuation abuse – as well as implementing inexpensive, efficient tools to challenge the validity of issued patents.
• Passing a comprehensive patent litigation reform bill, such as the Innovation Act, that levels the playing field and removes systemic advantages for patent trolls.
• Ending the Federal Circuit’s exclusive jurisdiction over patent cases, so that other appellate courts have a chance to offer alternative approaches and legal interpretations.
• Passing meaningful reform to discourage bad actors from sending frivolous demand letters.
• Putting a stop to “forum shopping,” the ability for patent owners to file suit in distant favorable districts that have minimal ties to defendant.
• These legislative reforms should be combined with action by the Patent Office to modernize its procedures (such as its use of online resources and databases) and promote patent clarity. The courts, for their part, could seek to limit exorbitant damages awards.
• Private parties also have a role to play. For example, companies could encourage open innovation by adopting alternative patent licensing schemes that prevent patents from being abused by trolls.

Other than targeted reform to stop frivolous demand letters being sent – which is pretty hard to argue against on its face – these fixes are enough to start fierce arguments.

Pro-patent types will point out – rightly – that the Supreme Court last year already made it harder to obtain and to keep certain types of software patents, in Alice v CLS Bank, as well as relaxed the standard for awarding attorney’s fees, in Octane Fitness v Icon Health & Fitness.

In addition, unlike a few years ago, it is far from clear that patent litigation is increasing. My Twitter feed has been a hotbed of increasingly bitter arguments recently over patent litigation statistics, with this just one example.

Expect the rancor to increase even further as patent reform gets debated during the next weeks and months. 

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