Patent Reform Guide for Small Entities

The Guide to Patent Reform for Small Entities

Tip:  Bookmark this page…I will continue to update it as I uncover additional resources.  I’ll mark what is new with "NEW."  [Last update May 26, 2005]

I.  What is a "Small Entity"

• Small entity status is defined in 37 CFR §1.27 using the definitions of 37 CFR §1.9. 
• A non-legal (non-binding) definition (for the purposes of this page) would be universities, independent inventors and small businesses (500 employees or less).
• The James Goepel article (May 2003, IP Today) called Small Businesses Aren’t Always Small Entities at the USPTO [pdf] is worth reading as well.

II.  Small Entity Voices

• Statement [pdf] of William Parker, CEO of Diffraction, Ltd. before the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Senate Judiciary Committee (April 25, 2005).
• Comments [pdf] of the National Association of Patent Practitioners (NAPP.org)
• Summary testimony [pdf] of Nathan P. Myhrvold, CEO of Intellectual Ventures before the Subcommittee on the Courts, Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives (April 28, 2005).

III.  General Resources

• Matt Buchanan’s Promote the Progress Blog’s "Patent Reform" category
• Dennis Crouch’s Patently-O Blog’s Patent Legislation category

IV.  Blog Posts & News Articles of Interest to Small Entitites

• Patent Reform: Do Small Entities Support the Status Quo?, The Invent Blog - 2005.05.26.  "NEW"
• Injunctive Relief - Historical Perspective, Patent Prospector blog, 2005.05.19.  "NEW"
• Does the Constitution Provide for a Right to an Injunction in Patent Cases?, Patently-O Blog, 2005.05.18.  "NEW"
• Inventors Oppose Key Provisions In Proposed Patent Reform, IP Law Bulletin (subscription) - 2005.05.12
• Evaluating A Patent System Gone Awry, Washington Post - 2005.05.05
• Patent Reform Issues by Robert Shaver (Patent Pending Blog) - 2005.05.11
• Let’s Hear it For Dr. Myhrvold! by Phil Mann (IP Litigation Blog) - 2005.05.2

V.  The Draft Bill

• Draft Fee Bill

Contact me if you have the scoop on additional resources that should be listed here.

[Credit:  Some of the above PDF's were copied from Matt Buchanan's (testimony) & Dennis Crouch's (draft bill) sites (I'm hosting them locally to help them spread bandwidth)...thanks Matt/Dennis!]

Related Posts:

• Constitutional argument against changing injunctive relief
• Patent Reform Guide for Small Entities: Introduction
• Patent Reform: Do Small Entities Support the Status Quo?

Patent Reform Guide for Small Entities: Introduction

The Guide to Patent Reform for Small Entities:  Introduction

Big guys can rally around a cause…corporate structure is what they do well.

Little guys don’t tend to do the same.  They are little and they are often independent, it’s just their nature.  It is who they are, how they think.  Heck, some of them don’t play well with others.

The current patent reform proposal is being pushed for by large
entities…parties who have a different view of patent reformation, a
view that may not necessarily be in the best interest of small
entities. Just because they are incapable of creating a multi-million dollar
"patent reform PR" budget doesn’t mean that their voices shouldn’t be
heard.

While I have a few larger clients, a vast majority of my work is done
for "small entities"…companies having less than 500 employees and
independent inventors. 

So this is where I come in. I don’t set to unite, I seek to collect their concerns together in once place…one ring to unite them all.

I have created a single page…a one stop shop for all information about patent reform for small entities.  As I come across additional information, I will add it.  If you know of something I am missing, let me know.  I will eventually start summarizing the various player’s opinions on the various issues, hoping to create issue papers that other small entities can use to form their own opinions of the potential impact of the patent reform proposals on their business.

Here is the permanent link to:  The Patent Reform Guide for Small Entities.

Related Posts:

• Recap on Buchanan’s patent reform CLE
• Patent Reform: Do Small Entities Support the Status Quo?
• Patent Reform Guide for Small Entities