House Proceeding on Sep 7th, 2007 :: 0:30:49 to 0:36:47
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0:30:38 to 0:30:49( Edit History Discussion )

Peter Welch: out in contextnt of the rule that t as the gentleman from florida suggested, 14 amendments were offered. a number of those amendments, nt five of them were made in order and a a number of the other

0:30:49 to 0:31:00( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: amendments were worked out and are part of the manager's amendment. so this is -- the issues, many of the issues raised in the context of openness are continuing up to this point. this has been both

0:30:49 to 0:36:47( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Howard L. Berman

0:31:00 to 0:31:12( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: a bipartisan process and, i my suggest, with respect to the people who are supporting the product of this bipartisan process, the rule is being supported on a bipartisan basis. when functioning

0:31:12 to 0:31:25( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: properly, the patent system allows inventors to push the boundary of knowledge and possibility. i support strong robust protection for quality patents. however, when the system functions improperly,

0:31:25 to 0:31:35( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: such as allowing an overly broad or obvious patent, the patent systems can stifle innovation and harm america's competitiveness in the global economy. such patents could have argue aably obvious

0:31:35 to 0:31:46( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: inventions -- arguely -- arguabley obvious inventions. however, the most insidious troubling patents are the ones that are granted which impede commerce or further invention because they create

0:31:46 to 0:31:59( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: a patent thickette so wide and so dense that an entire industry or segment of our economy becomes subserve yant to a single patent from a single innovator. many groups, agencies and citizens

0:31:59 to 0:32:06( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: have written volumes on the need for reform. the united states patent and trademark office, the federal trade commission, the national academy of science, the intellectual property owners

0:32:06 to 0:32:18( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: association, the american bar association intellectual property division and the intellectual property association. all the studies show that the current system is in need of change if it remains

0:32:18 to 0:32:31( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: viable in the new technology global economy. the moment is ripe to move the patent system forward to meet to the challenges of the 21st century. serious flaws have to be fixed for our system

0:32:31 to 0:32:41( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: to remain rebust now and long into the future. as the gentleman from florida em acknowledged in his comments, which proceeded mine, this legislation is the result of a substantial amount of work,

0:32:41 to 0:32:58( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: not just over this congress but over the past three congresses. we did not under -- i ask unanimous consent -- s mr. welch: i yield the he gentleman such addition time as he may consume.

0:32:58 to 0:33:11( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: the speaker pro temporkee: the he gentleman is recognized. ni mr. berman: that is. dangerous but i will try to be restraint. we didn't undertake this endeavor lightly. this isn't a rush to

0:33:11 to 0:33:26( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: judgment. it isn't a rush to legislate. we didn't claim that this bill at this point is perfect, but this remains one step in the process. like all compromises, not everyone received everything

0:33:26 to 0:33:37( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: they wanted, which is honestly just as it should be. this legislation favors no industry, no organization or interest group. it seeks to solve problems that we have identified and had identified

0:33:37 to 0:33:48( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: for us by outside experts and agencies. the legislation does what is best for america and our spirit of inventiveness and innovation ti and it protects our position with the increasingly

0:33:48 to 0:34:04( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: competitive marketplace. rick boucher and i startoued down this path a long time ago. we've helped since that time working very closely with then the chairman of the subcommittee and now the

0:34:04 to 0:34:16( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: ranking member of the judiciary committee, lamar smith, with our subcommittee ranking member and former chairman of the subcommittee, howard coble. we have held 20 hearings 2over six

0:34:16 to 0:34:29( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: years. we have invited or heard from independent inventors, universities, large corporate companies, high tech companies, manufacturers and the financial services industry, biotech, the uspto, the a.d.a.,

0:34:29 to 0:34:46( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: the intellectual property organization, judges at district court and appellate level and economists and consumer groups. all were considered to ariff at a bill that we have before us today.

0:34:46 to 0:35:01( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: and this is a good bill. there will be four more suggestions made for changes to the bill. amendments by mr. issa, ms. jackson lee and mr. pence. these amendments addnt valuable v changes to

0:35:01 to 0:35:21( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: the bill. i won't go into detail now in discussing those amendments, but they address issues raised by sma ll inventors and by people who want to make wsure that the p.t.o. rule making authority

0:35:21 to 0:35:34( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: has adequate oversight by the congress. i urge my colleagues to grant us a rule to take this important piece of legislation and move it forward. and my c ommitment to everyone e in this

0:35:34 to 0:35:41( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: chamber is to recognize that there are still issues that need to be worked on and that we will -- we will be - working to try to achieve the best possible balance without undercutting the

0:35:41 to 0:35:56( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: need for fundamental reform that exists. i urge my colleagues to adopcot the rule, and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the t gentleman yields back the balance

0:35:56 to 0:36:06( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: of his time. the gentleman from florida is recognized. mr. diaz-balart: mr. speaker, at this time i yield as much time as he may consume to the distinguished ranking member of the rules commit tee. the

0:36:06 to 0:36:24( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized. mr. dreier: i thank my friend for yielding. i like to begin by expressing my appreciatio n to my friend nd from miami for his very thoughtful

0:36:24 to 0:36:36( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: and eloquent statement. going back to 1790 and the role that patents have played in the very founding of our country. i want to say, also, as i look around the floor and think or about the rules

0:36:36 to 0:36:47( Edit History Discussion )

Howard L. Berman: committee meeting that we had, i see the distinguished gentleman from maine, mr. michaud, who was joined by mr. manzullo in the rules committee tonight, my good friend, mr. mr. rohrabacher:,

0:36:47 to 0:37:01( Edit History Discussion )

David Dreier: who is here on the floor -- mr. rohrabacher, who is here on the floor. what i want to say is there is bipartisan support foarr this bill, mr. speaker, as my good friend from california,

0:36:47 to 0:44:11( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: David Dreier