dddd
PublishedMay 25, 2023

Reintroduction of Advancing America’s Interests Act is a Welcome Development for Innovators

Last week, Representative David Schweikert (AZ-01) and Don Beyer (VA-08) introduced the Advancing America’s Interests Act (AAIA). If passed, this legislation would help prevent the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) from being manipulated by patent trolls, protecting both American consumers and U.S. industries. 

As I have previously discussed, in recent years the ITC has been co-opted by patent trolls in direct contradiction to the agency’s mission. The ITC’s Section 337 investigations and threat of exclusion orders are now frequently used by trolls as leverage to extract settlements from productive companies, based on meritless patent infringement claims. In fact, according to the ITC’s own statistics, last year nearly 1 in 3 Section 337 investigations were brought by non-practicing entities, the majority of which are companies who acquire patents from others and whose only product is patent litigation. 

The AAIA would make a few key changes to deter abuse. First, the bill would require that complainants whose only industry is licensing—patent trolls—must show that their asserted patent has led to the development of products that incorporate the patent.  And that product development has to come after licensing the patent, not before. It makes perfect sense that investigations designed to protect domestic industry would require that the patents actually lead to the development of domestic products. 

Secondly, the bill reaffirms the ITC’s existing public interest obligation, requiring that the ITC consider the public interest as paramount and affirmatively determine that any potential exclusion order serves the public interest. This point of emphasis should help weed-out some of the most egregious potential abuses of agency proceedings. 

As Rep. Schweikert noted, “For far too long, the International Trade Commission has been misused by patent trolls seeking to exploit financial gain at the expense of American consumers and businesses. The Advancing America’s Interests Act modernizes the ITC by reforming its unfair import processes and ensuring public interest is always prioritized above bad actors looking to stifle competition.” 

The bipartisan Advancing America’s Interests Act is a commonsense solution to a problem that has been a consistent drag on innovation. Congress should move quickly to pass the AAIA.

Josh Landau

Patent Counsel, CCIA

Joshua Landau is the Patent Counsel at the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), where he represents and advises the association regarding patent issues.  Mr. Landau joined CCIA from WilmerHale in 2017, where he represented clients in patent litigation, counseling, and prosecution, including trials in both district courts and before the PTAB.

Prior to his time at WilmerHale, Mr. Landau was a Legal Fellow on Senator Al Franken’s Judiciary staff, focusing on privacy and technology issues.  Mr. Landau received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.S.E.E. from the University of Michigan.  Before law school, he spent several years as an automotive engineer, during which time he co-invented technology leading to U.S. Patent No. 6,934,140.

Follow @PatentJosh on Twitter.

More Posts

USPTO’s ANPRM Has Major Problems

Throughout my 26 years in Congress, including three terms as Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, there was a clear need to strengthen our patent system in order to protect the rights of innovat...

USPTO Invalidates VLSI Patent—So Why Didn’t They Review It The First Time?

Earlier today, the USPTO issued its final written decision in IPR2021-01064.  The final written decision found that all challenged claims in VLSI's patent were in fact invalid. So what makes t...

New Report Reaffirms Danger Patent Trolls Pose to Manufacturers, Small Businesses

People whose business models are threatened by strong post-grant review and improved patent quality continue to assert that non-practicing entities (NPEs) and the patent troll narrative is a myth or a...

Subscribe to Patent Progress

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.