MDMA Urges House to Make Significant Changes to Patent Reform Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2009

Contact:
Mark Leahey
(202) 354-7174
             
MDMA Urges House to Make Significant Changes to Patent Reform Act

WASHINGTON, DC - Mark Leahey, President and CEO of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA), issued this statement following yesterday’s House Judiciary Committee hearing on patent reform (HR 1260):

“It is absolutely vital that efforts to reform the US patent system create incentives to innovate and invest. As currently written, the House patent reform bill significantly weakens the US patent system, making it easier and cheaper to infringe. Specifically, provisions reducing the value of patents through mandatory apportionment and permitting anonymous, serial administrative challenges will stifle innovation and investment in a variety of industries, including medical technology. Inequitable conduct reform and the end of user fee diversion are also necessary in any patent reform legislation to assist PTO in addressing its significant backlog. MDMA looks forward to working with Members of the House to pass a patent bill that strengthens the patent system, not weaken it.”

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The Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) is a national trade association based in Washington, D.C. representing innovators and entrepreneurs in the medical device industry. MDMA seeks to improve the quality of patient care by encouraging the development of new medical technology and fostering the availability of innovative products in the marketplace.