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Big tech group urges Trump administration to drop patent rule
The alliance says the proposal would let weak patents face repeated challenges and raise legal costs for inventors and investors.
The High Tech Inventors Alliance, representing Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, urged the Trump administration to withdraw a proposed rule limiting patent challenges pending review at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
Congress established the review process in the America Invents Act of 2011 to provide a faster, cheaper alternative to federal court, though the patent office says repeated challenges can defeat this purpose.
James Edwards, executive director of Conservatives for Property Rights, supports the rule, stating "Reliable patents are the lifeblood of the American economy" and that repetitive litigation causes investors to lose confidence.
The White House Office of Management and Budget is reviewing the rule through the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, following meetings with groups including the Alliance of U.S. Startups and Inventors for Jobs.
Big Tech firms claim the rule hinders their ability to challenge patents the government should not have approved, while supporters argue it protects small inventors who cannot afford costly legal defense.