![The Senate and House now need to reconcile some significant differences between their respective versions of the America Invents Act. [© kuosumo - Fotolia.com]](/images/stories/2011/CapitalHill1045815-20110628214915.png "CapitalHill.png")
The biggest overhaul of U.S. patent law since 1952 has, in a sense, brought Republicans and Democrats together. Each party now has pushed a version of a patent reform bill, under the name “America Invents,” through the chamber of Congress that they control.
House Republicans sounded a lot like Senate Democrats on Thursday, soon after their chamber’s version of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act passed by a somewhat bipartisan 304 to 117 majority, with 136 Democrats joining 168 Republicans in voting for the measure. “This legislation modernizes our patent system to help create private sector jobs and keep America on the leading edge of innovation,” declared House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH).
Boehner’s statement didn’t sound too different from that of Sen. Pat Leahy (D-VT) the night the Senate bill sailed through that chamber 95–5: “The America Invents Act will promote American innovation, create American jobs, and grow America’s economy, all without adding to the deficit.”
To read the full, original article click on this link: GEN | Analysis & Insight:House Version of Patent Reform Poses Challenges for Biotech Inventors
Author:Alex Philippidis
