Goodlatte says he'll lead House GOP on patent reform

Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) said Friday he will be taking the lead for House Republicans on the creation of new patent reform legislation during a taping of C-SPAN's "The Communicators" that will air in the coming weeks.

The chairman of the House Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Intellectual Property said House Judiciary chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) has charged him with taking the lead on crafting patent reform legislation in the 112th Congress.

"[Chairman Smith] has tasked me with being very fast out of the gate on patent reform," Goodlatte said, adding that in the past both the House and the Senate have passed their own patent reform bills only to see them stall in the other chamber.

Goodlatte said lawmakers are working in a bipartisan, bicameral way to decide which patent reforms can enhance job growth and stand a good chance of passing Congress and being signed into law by the president.

Goodlatte said the most likely focus would be on improving the efficiency of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office by increasing the speed and quality of the patent process. He acknowledged the Obama administration's recent plan for reforming the process but said legislation would likely be necessary.

When asked about his primary concern for any legislation Goodlatte said the patent process is better at handling drugs and other products that use single patents, but less equipped to deal with technology products that often incorporate dozens or even hundreds of patents.

He added that the USPTO doesn't use enough technology to ensure products are unique and worthy of a new patent, making the process slow and cumbersome.

Goodlatte also said his committee will examine the White House's recently unveiled national wireless initiative from a competition standpoint to ensure the government's funding for expanding broadband access doesn't discourage private sector firms looking to provide wireless service to rural areas.

Goodlatte appeared unpersuaded by the administration's proposal to fund the national wireless plan using spectrum auctions and indicated that any "massive new expenditures" would be scrutinized closely in light of the current difficult fiscal climate.

However, he echoed the president's comparison last week between the potential of nationwide broadband access and the creation of the transcontinental railroad during the mid-19th century, predicting that expanding access to rural areas could stem the migration of young people to major cities.