The Hill News

Despite earnest efforts by Congress to address it, our nation’s patent system has become a disincentive to innovation, at least in the tech industries. The evidence: the patent wars plaguing the tech world.

Day after day one company sues another, then that company turns around and sues the first, or a third. Meanwhile, every major technology company is in a race to build its defensives by stockpiling patents, spending in the millions and billions in order to stay on a level playing field with its competitors. Moreover, patent trolls are emerging on the flanks â€" continually acquiring patents with the sole aim of strong-arming companies into forking over licensing fees.

There is no question the state of patent policy in the United States has gotten seriously off the rails, in ways that endanger the long-term well being of our economic and technological development. To understand what has happened, it is important to look to the past.

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