San Diego life sciences groups criticized the introduction of patent litigation reform legislation in Washington, saying the so-called Innovation Act will create “additional patent-related uncertainly in the already high-risk life sciences and technology sectors.”
The California Healthcare Institute, BayBio, Biocom and CONNECT issued a joint statement signed by the CEOs of each organization, Sara Radcliffe, Gail Maderis, Joe Panetta and Greg KcKee. The three San Diego and one Bay Area trade organizations primarily represent startups in biotech and life sciences.
“The legislation introduced this week unfortunately will create additional patent-related uncertainty in the already high-risk life sciences and technology sectors,” the four said in the statement. “We respectfully oppose the Innovation Act in its current form, and look forward to working with the bill’s sponsors to improve the legislation so that it is more supportive of our state’s life sciences innovation ecosystem.”
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, a congressman from Virginia, introduced H.R. 9 on Thursday with Rep. Darrell Issa, a Republican who represents north coastal San Diego and south Orange counties, as a sponsor.
According to Issa, the bill is intended to target “well-funded ‘patent trolls’ who exploit loopholes in our patent system, bullying inventors and small businesses with frivolous lawsuits.”
Issa is an inventor himself with 37 patents, and founded Directed Electronics, the nation’s largest manufacturer of vehicle anti-theft devices.
