House Passes Patent Overhaul

Reuters reports:

Patent legislation that aims to clear a years-long backlog of applications and allows the patent office set its own fees was approved by the House of Representatives on Thursday.

Supporters say the bill will help the patent office hire more examiners and clear out more than 700, 000 applications that are awaiting approval or rejection.

Critics say the measure will make it harder for inventors to defend their patents against infringement.

The House voted 304 to 117 to approve the bill. The Senate passed a very similar bill by an overwhelming margin in March. Differences between the two versions must now be ironed out.