Legislation that would limit patent validity challenges at the Patent and Trademark Office and strengthen patent owner rights in court was introduced in the Senate June 21 by Sen. Christopher Coons.
The Support Technology & Research for Our Nation’s Growth and Economic Resilience (STRONGER) Act, would make it easier for patent holders, including individual inventors and universities, to enforce their patents, Coons (D-Del.) said in a statement. Sens. Tom Cotton (R- Ark.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) are co-sponsors, according to the statement.
A similar measure by Coons did not advance past the Senate Judiciary Committee in the last Congress.
Patent owners have complained that PTO proceedings, such as inter partes review, that let alleged infringers challenge the validity of patents are unfair. The bill would make it easier for patent owners to amend patent claims during a challenge and would limit repetitive attacks against patents.