Congressman Peters Statement on Vote Against H.R. 3309

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) released the following statement after voting against H.R. 3309, a misguided attempt at achieving necessary patent reform:

“Today’s legislation is far too broad in its scope and would have the unintended consequence of discouraging innovation – the lifeblood of San Diego’s economy. It is clear that patent reform is needed but this bill is not the right way to address it. We need reform that cuts down on ‘patent trolls’ while still leaving room for inventors like Qualcomm, San Diego’s largest private employer, to protect their patents with legitimate claims; unfortunately today’s bill has the potential to punish the very entities it was trying to help.

“While I support patent reform that provides more transparency in patent ownership, I want to ensure that the right piece of legislation is put forward – one that deters bad actors but does not unfairly burden universities, start-up companies, and small and large businesses alike. It is my hope that we can bring all interested parties to the table for future reforms to ensure that we maintain our nation’s competitive advantage in innovation and entrepreneurism.”

H.R. 3309 was opposed by the University of California system, BIOCOM, CHI, Connect, Qualcomm, the National Small Business Association, the American Bar Association, and several other organizations.

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