C4IP Board Member and former Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals Paul Michel recently penned an op-ed in the DC Journal shining a spotlight on how Big Tech companies undermine smaller businesses by exploiting the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). These companies overwhelm their smaller rivals with costly patent invalidation challenges at the PTAB, exploiting their vast financial resources to suppress competition.
Judge Michel provides valuable insight into the PTAB’s original purpose: improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the patent system to support American inventors and entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, as Judge Michel points out, the board’s reality has strayed far from its founding principles.
In order to restore balance and protect the rights of small inventors, Judge Michel argues that Congress must reform the PTAB by passing the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership (PREVAIL) Act.
“Small businesses help make America’s economy tick. They are responsible for most technological breakthroughs that allow us to protect our national security and compete with global rivals,” says Michel. “Passing the PREVAIL Act would help inventors and small businesses defend their rights — and show that, even after a divisive election, Democrats and Republicans can come together to make the system work better for ordinary Americans.”
Read the full op-ed here:
https://dcjournal.com/u-s-patent-law-needs-congress-help/