Live Webcast of Patent Reform Hearing at 4:30 Today

The Patently-O Blog has a summary of the patent reform proposal being discussed today by the

House Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property Oversight
Hearing on the Committee Print Regarding Patent Quality Improvement
Wednesday 04/20/2005 - 4:30 PM
2141 Rayburn House Office Building
Click here for the live Webcast

The witness list includes:

• J. Jeffrey Hawley Legal Division Vice President and Director, Patent Legal Staff, Eastman Kodak Company (on behalf of Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO))
• Richard J. Lutton Jr.Chief Patent Counsel, Apple (on behalf of the Business Software Alliance)
• Jeffrey P. Kusham Esq.Sidley Austin Brown and Wood, LLP (on behalf of Genetech)
• William L. LaFuze Chair, Section of Intellectual Property Law, American Bar Association (on behalf of the American Bar Association and the ABA Section of Intellectual Property Law)

The "committee print" proposal addresses a variety of issues, including

• a first-inventor-to-file system
• limits on broadening claims in continuation applications
• post-grant opposition
• requirements for finding willful infringement
• requirements for injunctive relief
• limits on damages