Let's not miss this opportunity for consensus-based patent reform

By David J. Kappos

Our news is peppered these days with reports of 'patent trolls' – dark, ugly creatures, shaking down innocent companies based on absurd claims of patent infringement. Congress should quickly pass legislation to curtail this abusive behavior. However, some are using the need to address the patent troll issue as cover to unnecessarily weaken our nation’s patent laws.

If passed in its current form, the focus of legislative discussions – H.R. 3309 – would undermine U.S. innovation and job creation. That would send the wrong signal internationally, where we are trying to get important new players such as Brazil, China and India to strengthen their patent and overall intellectual property laws.