MICROSOFT CALLS FOR PATENT REFORM

CNet reports that a formidable coalition, including Microsoft and Oracle are calling for patent reform. At last weekend’s Association for Competitive Technology Conference, Brad Smith, Microsoft’s general counsel called for it to be made easier to challenge patents once they’ve been granted. His call, which was heard by a large number of Congressional staffers in the audience, was motivated by the fact that Microsoft finds itself defending itself against 35 to 40 infringement suits at any one time. Oracle’s chief patent counsel pointed to the fact that patent infringement damages far exceed what companies would pay to licence the technology question. The call is being backed by the US Chamber of Commerce and the Senate Judicial Committee met yesterday (Monday) to consider patent reform legislation.

Patents – constantly vilified

The IPKat can’t help but think that it would be more sensible to grant solid patents in the first place, rather than focusing on challenging them after they’ve been granted.

Bad patents here, here and here