Massive patent reform bill passes House committee

This reform bill quite excellent and much needed, as it focuses on limiting patent litigation and outrageous infringement lawsuits. Shifting from "first to invent" to "first to file" actually helps prevent costly lawsuits. Under the current "first to invent," someone who files a patent can be invalidated by someone who claims they invented the idea first, but didn't take any action, which often results in expensive and time consuming litigation. Hopefully this bill makes it through the full vote...

After the startup school in April, I had the opportunity to chat with one of the lawyers who had earlier presented. I asked him about the possibility of a world-wide patent system, where an inventor would file once and enjoy protection the world over. He didn't think that would happen anytime soon, mainly because of the "first to invent" system that US uses vs. the "first to file" that most other countries use.

I guess that dream is one step closer to reality if the law passes. :~)

not sure if I like "first to file." It sounds too easy to just write up someone else's idea.

ok I guess either the article has recently been edited... I like the prior art and total damages cap, but does this sound right, the US will "shift from a "first to invent" system to the "first to file" system used in other countries"?

This sounds terrible:

The other bedrock changes to the US patent system envisioned in the original bill remain, including a shift from a "first to invent" system to the "first to file" system used in other countries.

So I do the required prior-art search, pretend not to find anything, and patent an idea that's been out there forever. No one can claim prior art.

Great going, guys.