More groups have weighed-in on the House passage of a patent reform bill.
Yesterday, we reported CEA President/CEO Gary Shapiro called The Innovation Act “the most important technology legislation of 2013.”
H.R. 3309 aims to rein-in so-called patent trolls. The House vote was 325-91 and the measure now moves to the Senate.
The issue is of importance to radio as several ownership groups are facing patent infringement allegations over the use of technology for both HD Radio as well as music storage and automation systems.
NAB President/CEO Gordon Smith says the vote “sends a strong message that lawmakers stand in support of innovation and condemn the harms caused to both the economy and our patent system by so-called ‘patent trolls.’” Smith says the broadcast trade group looks forward to working with Senate lawmakers to “ensure that legislation to address this important issue is enacted into law.”
Public Knowledge, too, praised the action. “Patent trolls have taken advantage of the system to the tune of $80 billion each year. And their impact on entrepreneurs, startups, and consumers is unparalleled,” says Public Knowledge VP Government Affairs Christopher Lewis.
