Patent expert Harold Wegner's e-letter comments on the rising Public Perception of Patent Importance:

Just a decade ago, a patent hearing would have drawn gaping yawns from the public with a smattering of a few Washington regulars and largely vacant seats, both for the members and the audience.

Yesterday, eighty minutes before the hearing [of a House Judiciary Subcommittee] the attendants' line stretched down the corridor with numerous ill-dressed folks lounging on the floor or in chairs ("seat holders" selling their places in line to corporate VP's and lobbyists); those coming later had to sit in an overflow video-feed room; ten or so members of the subcommittee participated in the hearings, some showing significant insight. The press table was overflowing; the beat reporter for Reuters was unable to get a seat at the table. A former Chairman of the Subcommittee staff sat in the very last row of the audience, along with other pooh bahs.

The point? Patent reform is perceived by Congress as important; the presence of myriad lobbyists manifests the money that is being spent by industry to deal with reform. Patent reform legislation will continue center stage, whether it passes or not.

posted by James DeLong @ 11:22 AM | Patents

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