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NEWS FEED
Patent Law Reform Now On Senate's Shoulders
In outlining his plan for economic growth and competitiveness in last month's State of the Union address, President Obama called upon Congress to pass a patent litigation reform bill "that allows businesses to stay focused on innovation, not needless and costly litigation."
What Tech Heard in Obama's State of the Union
In his fifth State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama laid out key themes and decisive steps for “a year of action” in government. Both soaring in rhetoric, and granular in detail, the President’s remarks provide a roadmap for legislation and a glimpse into some of the executive remedies he will seek to continue growing the U.S. economy -- even during the pitched battles of a mid-term election.
What Startups Want to Hear in the #SOTU
President Obama will kick off a highly-charged political year with his address to Congress and the country on the current State of the Union. For decades, this has been an opportunity for Presidents to lay out policy initiatives and bold ideas for the year ahead.
Engine Supports Fee Shifting in Patent Cases
Fee shifting, or "loser pays," is already in the Patent Act but the current wording -- only in “exceptional cases” can the court award attorney fees to the prevailing party -- left the door open for the Federal Circuit to define exceptional so narrowly that fees are only granted in a fraction of cases.
The Innovation Act Passes the House
Engine Advocacy, and our nationwide network of startups, entrepreneurs, investors and allies, welcome this action taken by the House as yet another step in neutralizing the threat of patent trolls and the daily harm they cause to our economy. We commend leaders from both sides of the aisle including House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) among others in moving this bipartisan legislation through committee, onto the floor and ultimately working to ensure a sweeping majority in favor.
Make a Call to Support Patent Reform and The Innovation Act
This Thursday, the House of Representatives will vote on the Innovation Act -- the best bill yet that aims to remedy the growing patent trolling problem. We cannot wait to enact meaningful patent reform, and this is our opportunity. We need you to call your Congressional Representative to urge a yes vote on this bill.
Innovation Act Passed By House Judiciary Committee
Engine congratulates the House Judiciary Committee on passing H.R. 3309, the Innovation Act for patent reform, on Wednesday. We're also honored to have been given a shout out during the proceedings. Check out the video to take a look.
Startups Speak: We’re Changing the Narrative of the Patent Troll Story
If you’ve been following the patent troll epidemic in the news at all, you’ve probably also heard of the company I work for. Six months ago, I started working at FindTheBest. Two days after I started, we were served with our first demand letter from Lumen View Technology LLC. The next A day, Lumen View Technology filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
American Inventors and Patent Holders Call for Patent Reform
As a diverse group of engineers, the signatories have contributed to the development of the internet alongside the creation and improvement of well-known household technologies. Together, they acknowledge the need to reform the current patent system to prevent abuse by non-practicing patent trolls.
What Startups Should Know About TPP
In the name of “individual rights and free expression,” WikiLeaks has released the draft text of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. Negotiations over this trade agreement began in secret between 12 Pacific Rim countries in December 2012, and despite the secrecy, we know (from a previous leak) that discussions have covered intellectual property, competition and State-owned enterprises, environmental policy, services and investment, and government procurement, among other issues. But how will this impact startups?
Investors Sign Letter Urging Patent Reform
Today, 39 prominent venture capitalists sent a letter to Congress urging comprehensive legislation to address the patent troll problem. Together, the signatories have aided the success of companies such as Netflix, Twitter, and Kickstarter, and they invest upwards of $1 billion annually to ensure that even more young, high-tech companies continue to grow and fuel job creation in the United States.
New Bill Targets Patent Trolls Stunting Economic Growth
Entrepreneurs, young businesses, and emerging, high-growth technologies are powering what resurgence there is in the American economy. But these businesses are subject to an arcane, onerous system of patent regulation that leaves them vulnerable, and that vulnerability is abused by patent assertion entities and their allies to leverage that system against innovators. With this reality, we are faced with two options: a broken system, or the chance of a reformed system that champions innovation and growth.
What Does the FTC Study of Patent Trolls Mean?
On Friday afternoon, the Federal Trade Commission announced its intention to launch a study of Patent Assertion Entities, commonly referred to as “patent trolls.” While a host of interesting research on the patent system has surfaced over the summer, the FTC’s involvement could lead to the evaluation of brand new information that will aid legislative efforts.
Surely We Can Find a Better Use For $83 Billion
A new study from the Progressive Policy Institute puts the economic cost of patent trolls at $83 billion. Patent trolls are capitalizing on a system which, as currently constituted, does not adequately service our growing economy. It is a system within our power to reconstruct, and while that work is underway, we need this community to continue to support those efforts to bring them to fruition.
Recess is Over. What Now For Tech Policy?
As D.C. returns to work this week, we reset our focus on what remains of the first session of the 113th Congress, still hopeful for movement on immigration reform, patent litigation reform, and other issues that impact the tech community.
Can The U.S. Follow New Zealand and Ban Software Patents?
In banning software patents, New Zealand has done the equivalent of amending section 101 of the Patent Act that helps define what is, and is not, patentable. As a refresher, this oft-cited section is intended to preclude patent protection for laws of nature, natural phenomena, and abstract ideas. Can the U.S. do the same?
Engine On-Air Episode 1: The Software Patent Problem
Join us as we discuss the patent system: how it should work, why it doesn't, and what we can do about it.