US presidential election: the IP politicians who have been re-elected
After Donald Trump was elected president of the US, WIPR looks at which politicians who have been involved in intellectual property have been re-elected.
Republican Darrell Issa is currently in the lead for the 49th congressional district (California) in the House of Representatives, according to news website KPBS. He has held the seat since 2000, and at the time of writing his victory had not been confirmed.
Issa is chair of the House’s subcommittee on courts, intellectual property and the internet.
The subcommittee conducts hearings on concerns of the IP sector. In September, it conducted a hearing on the oversight of the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Bob Goodlatte, chair of the House’s judiciary committee, and representative of the sixth congressional district of Virginia, has won his 13th term, according to news website The News Virginian.
He has previously served as vice chairman of the subcommittee on courts, intellectual property and the internet at the House.
In 2015, Goodlatte reintroduced the Innovation Act, a bill aimed at reducing patent lawsuits, but it has yet to pass the House or Senate.
The act “builds on the reforms that were made in the America Invents Act and addresses certain abusive practices taking place in our courts”, said a press release from the judiciary committee.
With 27 co-sponsors, the bill was a reintroduction of the same legislation that failed to be approved in 2013 (despite passing the House with a bi-partisan vote of 325-91).
Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy, the longest-serving member of the Senate, won an eighth term, according to Business Insider.
Leahy has long been involved in the IP arena—and in May this year the Senate passed legislation introduced by Leahy to encourage and reward the use of patented technology to address humanitarian needs.
The Patents for Humanity Program Improvement Act, which Leahy has championed for several years, supports an award programme at the USPTO that recognises patent owners that use their technology to improve the health and quality of life in impoverished nations, said a statement from Leahy’s website.
However, it has yet to be passed by the House.
Already registered?
Login to your account
If you don't have a login or your access has expired, you will need to purchase a subscription to gain access to this article, including all our online content.
For more information on individual annual subscriptions for full paid access and corporate subscription options please contact us.
To request a FREE 2-week trial subscription, please signup.
NOTE - this can take up to 48hrs to be approved.
For multi-user price options, or to check if your company has an existing subscription that we can add you to for FREE, please email Adrian Tapping at atapping@newtonmedia.co.uk