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January 28, 2006
rep. tom davis demands uspto quality improvements - what has RIM wrought?
Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.) asked the director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Friday if the controversy over who controls the patents for Research in Motion (RIM) BlackBerry technology indicates that USPTO needs to reform how it examines patent applications, according to a press release (PDF Version).
“In today’s fast-moving world, America’s economy and our ability to compete in a global marketplace are dependent on an efficient and competent system to bring new technological developments to the consumer market,” Davis said in a press release. He is chairman of the House Government Reform Committee.
In a letter to USPTO Director Jon Dudas (PDF copy), Davis questioned whether the agency needs to refine the patent process. Davis added that he is ready to help improve the process.
“If adequate resources were utilized to determine the initial validity of the patents, this controversy could have been avoided,” he wrote in the letter. “Additionally, if RIM’s re-examination requests had been acted upon more expeditiously, the current uncertainty could have been resolved long before it threatened critical service to the government and consumers.”
“The current patent controversy involving BlackBerry service is but one signal that our economy and ability to compete in a global economy are dependent on an efficient and competent system,” Davis wrote. “A vital component of that system is a well-funded and efficient Patent and Trademark Office.”
The answer is pretty simple actually, Congressional appropriators have to stop raiding the excess fees (i.e. the “inventors tax”) raised by the USPTO and instead let them be used for improving service, quality and examination time. Simple solution – hard to carry out.
Posted by Douglas Sorocco at 01:35 PM.
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