Coalition for Patent Fairness Statement on Patent Reform Legislation in the U.S. Senate

WASHINGTON, April 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following statement is from Mark Isakowitz, coordinator for The Coalition for Patent Fairness:

"We applaud Chairman Leahy's determined leadership on the critical issue of patent reform. He is right to stand firm for meaningful reform on the issue of damages. The right objective has to be a comprehensive bill which serves the interests of all innovators.

"We are disappointed that critics of the bill refuse to budge an inch when the bill's sponsors and supporters have made a tremendous number of compromises to address their concerns.

"We also commend Senator Hatch for his leadership and commitment to strengthening the patent system.

"Chairman Leahy, Senator Hatch and countless others recognize the vast changes that have taken place in the nation's economy over the past fifty years. The Patent Reform Act modernizes the law to accommodate those changes, while protecting intellectual property rights and correcting inequities in current law. The hundreds of companies, industries, and organizations that make up the Coalition for Patent Fairness fully support Chairman Leahy's decision to stand firm on the issue of damages.

"We will continue to work with the bill's sponsors to bring the bill forward for a floor vote."

About the Coalition for Patent Fairness

The Coalition for Patent Fairness is committed to the passage of patent legislation that will foster innovation and economic growth. Representing a broad range of companies and trade associations in the financial services, technology, energy, chemical, manufacturing and media industries, the Coalition's members include Apple, Autodesk, Business Software Alliance, Chevron, Cisco Systems, Comcast, Dell, Electrolux, Google, Hewlett-Packard Company, Information Technology Industry Council, Intel, Micron Technology Inc., Microsoft, Oracle, Palm Inc., RIM, SAP, Seagate Technology, Symantec, TechNet, Time Warner and Visa. For more information, visit www.patentfairness.org.

Contact: David Mack

202-777-3523

dmack@clsdc.com