No mystery who is kicking with spurs to drive the mule -

The U.S. economy and its strong patent system have been the envy of the world for well over a century. However, a few very influential large companies led by Microsoft, Intel, Cisco, IBM and the other "usual suspects" have spun a web of deception and successfully pushed legislation through Congress that dramatically weakens the patent system. A corresponding bill is now approaching a vote in the Senate. The influential group of big companies calls itself the "coalition for patent fairness," but is more accurately described as the "infringers' lobby." They no longer need to rely on patents for a competitive advantage - instead, they rely on their dominant market power and don't want innovators getting in their way.

Leckrone cites research reported in the Patent Prospector -

According to economist and patent system expert Pat Choate, the seven founders of the infringers' lobby have been cited for anti-trust violations over 250 times in the past decade. He has debunked the myths of "litigation crisis" and "runaway damage awards" and documented them to be false. Patent litigation has not increased any more than any other form of litigation; infringement awards represent about one-tenth of one percent of the infringers' revenue.

What it all means, in Leckrone's view -

If the bill is passed by the Senate it would radically tilt the balance of power toward large corporations. Inventors will have to shoulder increasing costs to get patents for their inventions and will receive reduced compensation from infringers. They will be stone-walled with a never-ending barrage of legal proceedings. Infringers could only be sued on their home turf, instead of in courts which have rules minimizing stone-walling and obfuscation.

Significant global innovation centers, including Germany and Israel, are deeply concerned about this bill. A weakened U.S. patent system will damage their ability to invest in technology and create jobs. On the other hand, patent experts in China and India have welcomed the bill, as it would enable low-risk and low-cost access to U.S. technologies.