MITCH McCONNELL

kentucky

361-A russell senate office building washington, DC 20510-1702

REPUBLICAN LEADER

COMMITTEES:

AGRICULTURE

APPROPRIATIONS

RULES AND ADMINISTRATION

February 29, 2008

Dear Mr. Scott:

Thank you for contacting me with your comments regarding the Patent Reform Act of 2007. I appreciate your interest in this subject, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.

Patent laws are necessary to protect property rights in inventions. Today, protection of intellectual property is seen as a necessary component of both the national and global economy because it encourages innovation and investment. However, the rate of innovation has largely outpaced the laws governing patent ownership, leading to concerns about the fairness and effectiveness of current laws.

On April 18, 2007, Senator Leahy introduced the Patent Reform Act of 2007 (S.I 145) in the United States Senate. This legislation contains provisions intended to increase patent quality, harmonize U.S. patent laws with international standards, and decrease patent litigation. The House of Representatives passed its version of the Patent Reform Act (H.R.I 908) on September 7, 2007.

Proponents of S.I 145 claim that it is a necessary step toward updating our patent laws and that it will further spur innovation, an important component to our continued economic vitality. Opponents of this bill would like to revise it, because they maintain it may unfairly benefit some businesses at the expense of others and may unintentionally discourage innovation.

Currently, debate continues as to how to strike the appropriate balance in the effort to update patent laws. On July 19, 2007, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary approved S.I 145, and it now awaits consideration by the full Senate. Please rest assured that I will keep your concerns in mind during any Senate debate on patent reform.

Once again, thank you for writing. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future with your concerns. Sincerely,

MITCH McCONNELL UNITED STATES SENATOR

MM/tb