Cochran & Wicker Vote for Patent Reform Bill

Press Release

U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) late Thursday voted for final Senate passage of legislation to significantly reform the U.S. patent system and improve the ability of inventors and innovators to bring their concepts to market.

The Senate approved the America Invents Act (HR.1249) on an 89-9 vote, clearing the way for the bill to be signed into law. Among other reforms, HR.1249 would expedite and expand the patent system to improve global competitiveness and reform patent appeals and infringement processes.

"The long overdue policy changes made by this legislation should make the United States more competitive globally and, in turn, lead to more jobs here. For Mississippi, I believe these reforms can help bring to the marketplace more of the innovations developed in our universities and within the private sector," Cochran said.

"One of America's greatest competitive advantages is our ingenuity, and this bill should help spur the economic growth that innovation makes possible," said Wicker. "Our creative spirit leads to new exciting products, creating jobs here at home. This legislation can help encourage that spirit."

Cochran and Wicker have been consistently supportive of enactment of patent reform legislation, and last year pressed Senate leadership to allow the Senate to debate and vote on the issue.

As passed by the Senate and House, HR.1249 would implement changes that would improve the maintenance of intellectual property rights and the ability of the U.S. Patent and Trade Office to grant and protect patents, all of which play a key role in keeping the American industries competitive in world. The legislation would move the United States from a first-to-invent to a first-to-file system and give the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office fee-setting authority to ensure its operations are properly funded.

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