Senate Begins Work on Patent Legislation

March 27, 2009 - The Senate Judiciary Committee began work this week on the Patent Reform Act of 2009. The “mark up” was the first of what is expected to be several Committee reviews of the legislation. The panel did move several technical measures of the bill by voice vote. However, the more controversial measures of the legislation, such as the damages and post-grant language, will likely be taken up in a second meeting of the Committee, scheduled to be held on March 31. Several members of the Committee indicated that a compromise must be reached, especially on damages, before the bill moves forward.