Patent Reform

The Patent Reform Act of 2009 (S. 515; H.R. 1260) were introduced in the 111th Congress on March 3, 2009.  These bills are similar to S. 1145 which was introduced in the 110th Congress and H.R. 1908 which was passed by the House in 2008.

Lisa Kuuttila, President & CEO of STC.UNM (STC), a wholly owned subsidiary of the University of New Mexico (UNM), responsible for technology-transfer at UNM, has a number of concerns with S. 515. STC and has sent an open letter which argues in favor of strong patents to New Mexico’s congressional delegation, President Obama, and ranking members of the House and Senate judiciary committees. The letter is posted on the STC Web site and invites individuals, organizations and companies to sign on in support.

Andrew Cohn, AUTM VP for Public Policy has blogged on this topic. Read the blog and share your comments.
Read Lisa Kuuttila’s letter to AUTM
Go directly to the STC open letter 

Read the new letter to Patrick Leahy  from AUTM and five other associations expressing strong support for the substitute amendment to S. 515, submitted March 8, 2010.

AUTM has signed onto a letter with the other higher education associations urging the Senate Judiciary committee to bring S.515 to the floor.  Read the letter submitted May 7, 2009.

AUTM has joined AAU, COGR, NASULGC, ACE, and AAMC to issue a position statement on patent reform legislation.
Read the letter to Patrick Leahy and Arlen Specter and the position statement.

Read the views of AUTM Leadership, and Lend Your Voice to the Discussion
Read the blog of Andrew Cohn, AUTM VP for Public Policy for more insights on this issue, and share your comments.

Read AUTM President Arundeep Pradhan’s blog: Patent Reform: On the Agenda Again
Pradhan addresses two patent reform bills introduced to Congress this month. How will these bills affect technology transfer? How will they impact AUTM members? Get the AUTM president’s take on the issues, and then add your comments to the discussion.

This toolkit (see related files below) contains the text of S. 515 and H.R. 1260, AUTM letters to Congress, guidance for AUTM members related to this legislation and other related material.

S. 515 The Patent Reform Act of 2009 (Adobe PDF File)
S.515 Letter to Leahy (Adobe PDF File)
Lisa Kuuttila’s letter to AUTM: Concerns with S. 515 (Adobe PDF File)
Joint Patent Associations Letter (Adobe PDF File)
Review of Patent Process (Microsoft Word Document)
Key Provisions of S.515 (Microsoft Word Document)
Association Memo to Memberships (Microsoft Word Document)
The Patent Reform Act of 2009 H.R. 1260 (Adobe PDF File)
Higher Ed Associations Joint Letter, May 7, 2009 (Adobe PDF File)
University Views on S.515 (Adobe PDF File)
Letter to Patrick Leahy and Arlen Specter (Adobe PDF File)
AUTM Letter to Senators Leahy and Spector-S. 1145 (Adobe PDF File)
AAU Letter on HR 1908 - PUR (8/21/07) (Adobe PDF File)
AAU Letter re: S. 1145, 2/5/08 (Adobe PDF File)
Higher Ed Associations' Statement on S. 1145 (Adobe PDF File)
AUTM Letter on H.R. 1908 - PUR (9/6/07) (Adobe PDF File)
AUTM Letter - H.R. 1908 - Venue (9/6/07) (Adobe PDF File)
Comparison of H.R. 1908 and S. 1145 (Adobe PDF File)
Cross Coalition Letter of June 19, 2007 (Adobe PDF File)
S. 1145 as amended in 2008 (Adobe PDF File)
Template letter to legislators re: S. 1145 and H.R. 1908 (Microsoft Word Document)
House Manager's Amendment to H.R. 1908 (7/16/07) (Adobe PDF File)
S. 1145 Talking Points (Adobe PDF File)
S. 1145 Template Letter (Microsoft Word Document)