{"id":88,"date":"2003-10-30T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2003-10-30T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.netjeff.com\/wp\/?p=88"},"modified":"2007-12-30T16:29:45","modified_gmt":"2007-12-31T00:29:45","slug":"ftc-says-the-patent-system-needs-to-be-changed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.netjeff.com\/wp\/?p=88","title":{"rendered":"FTC says the patent system needs to be changed"},"content":{"rendered":"

For Release:<\/font> <\/strong>October 28, 2003FTC Issues Report on How to Promote Innovation Through Balancing Competition with Patent Law and Policy<\/strong><\/font><\/p>\n

The Federal Trade Commission today issued its report on how to promote innovation by finding the proper balance of competition and patent law and policy. Although both competition in markets and patents for inventors can work together to foster innovation, the report states that each policy requires a proper balance with the other to do so. \"Consumers and innovators win when patents and competition policy are aligned in the proper balance. Although questionable patents can harm competition and innovation, valid patents work well with competition to promote innovation. This Report analyzes and makes recommendations for the patent system to maintain the proper balance with competition,\" said Timothy J. Muris, FTC Chairman.<\/p>\n

Today's report – which makes recommendations for the patent system – is the first of two reports about how to maintain that balance. A forthcoming second report by the FTC and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) will make similar recommendations for antitrust law.<\/p>\n

Among the ten recommendations of today's report, the FTC proposes legislative and regulatory changes to improve patent quality. Patents of questionable validity can slow further innovation and raise costs to consumers. Specifically, the report recommends:<\/p>\n