Patent Reform Bill Amended

On April 2, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved an amended patent reform bill by a 15-4 margin. The amendment to S. 515 includes changes to venue, damages and post-grant review provisions. The amendment was approved by Senate Judiciary Chairman and bill co-sponsor Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and others, but was strongly opposed by bill co-sponsor Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah). Click here for the text of the amendment.

The bill will now be brought before the full Senate, possibly with further amendments. The Senate is in recess until April 20.