Former U.S. Ambassador to China, U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and Governor of Washington Gary Locke recently authored an opinion piece in the Minnesota Star Tribune highlighting the importance of two bipartisan bills to Minnesota’s innovation ecosystem.
According to Locke, the Promoting and Respecting Economically Vital American Innovation Leadership (PREVAIL) Act and the Patent Eligibility Restoration Act (PERA) would address imbalances and inefficiencies in the patent system as well as provide much-needed clarity on which inventions qualify for patent protection.
Locke details how recent developments have created significant barriers for American innovators: Large companies have weaponized the Patent Trial and Appeal Board by filing duplicative legislation against their smaller competitors, and in addition, a series of Supreme Court cases has decreased the number of cutting-edge technologies eligible for patentability.
He calls on Minnesota leaders to support the PREVAIL Act and PERA to address these issues, stressing the importance of these bills to their state’s innovation economy:
“Minnesota’s congressional delegation can help safeguard both Minnesota’s economy and America’s technological competitiveness by lending their support to these bipartisan bills.”
Read the full op-ed here: