Latest Action: 09/27/2008 - Considered by Senate.

Bill Text
To amend title 35, United States Code, to create an exception from infringement for certain component parts used to repair another article of manufacture.

3/13/2008--Introduced.

Declares that it is not a patent infringement to make, use, offer to sell, or sell within the United States or import into the United States any article of manufacture that is a part of another article of manufacture, if the sole purpose of the part is for the repair of the article of manufacture of which it is a part so as to restore its original appearance.

Latest Action: 04/14/2008 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.

Bill Text
To amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a pathway for the licensure of biosimilar biological products, and for other purposes. 3/13/2008--Introduced. Pathway for Biosimilars Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow a person to submit an application for licensure of a biological product based on its similarity to a licensed biological product (the reference product).Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to approve the application if: (1) the biological product is biosimilar to the reference product with respect to each condition of use for which the reference product is approved; and (2) the applicant consents to the inspection of the facility that is the subject of the application. Sets forth requirements for a determination by the Secretary that a biological product is interchangeable with a reference product.Prohibits a biological product from being evaluated against more than one reference product.Prohibits [...]

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Latest Action: 05/12/2008 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Bill Text
To enhance remedies for violations of intellectual property laws, and for other purposes. 5/8/2008--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008 - Title I: Enhancements to Civil Intellectual Property Laws - (Sec. 101) Amends federal copyright law to: (1) provide a safe harbor for copyright registrations that contain inaccurate information, unless there was knowledge of the inaccurate information and the inaccuracy of the information, if known, would have caused the Register of Copyrights to refuse registration; (2) provide that copyright registration requirements apply to civil (not criminal) infringement actions; and (3) require courts to issue protective orders to prevent disclosure of seized records relating to copyright infringement. (Sec. 104) Broadens the trademark infringement situations in which treble damages are allowed to include: (1) intentionally [...]

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Latest Action: 11/15/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14491-14492, S14492-14493)

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide that certain tax planning inventions are not patentable, and for other purposes.

11/15/2007--Introduced.

Provides that tax planning inventions are not patentable. Defines a "tax planning invention" as a plan, strategy, technique, scheme, process, or system to reduce, minimize, avoid, or defer tax liability or to facilitate compliance with tax laws, excluding tax preparation software and other tools or systems used solely to prepare tax or information returns.

Latest Action: 10/12/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.

Bill Text
To safeguard the economic health of the United States and the health and safety of United States citizens by improving the management, coordination, and effectiveness of domestic and international intellectual property rights enforcement, and for other purposes. 9/18/2007--Introduced. Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Act - Amends the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2000 to repeal provisions establishing the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordination Council.Establishes the Intellectual Property Enforcement Network (IPEN), consisting of specified representatives of various government agencies, to: (1) establish policies, objectives, and priorities concerning international intellectual property protection and law enforcement; (2) coordinate and facilitate implementation of such policies, objectives, and priorities; and (3) protect U.S. intellectual property rights overseas, including by creating an international task force.[...]

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Latest Action: 09/05/2007 - Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship.

Bill Text
To amend the Small Business Act to improve trade programs, and for other purposes. 9/4/2007--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on September 4, 2007. The summary of that version is repeated here.) SBA Trade Programs Act of 2007 - Title I: Small Business Trade Policy - (Sec. 101) Amends the Small Business Act to require the director of the Office of International Trade (Office) within the Small Business Administration (SBA) to: (1) present recommendations regarding small business exporters to trade negotiators; (2) develop trade policies that support small businesses in domestic and foreign markets; (3) implement trade policies through relationships developed with federal trade policymakers and transnational organizations; (4) establish programs to boost exports of entrepreneurs and encourage transnational organizations to support and publicize [...]

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Latest Action: 06/27/2007 - Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Date of scheduled consideration. S-211. 11:00 a.m.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to establish a pathway for the licensure of biosimilar biological products, to promote innovation in the life sciences, and for other purposes. 6/26/2007--Introduced. Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2007 - Amends the Public Health Service Act to allow a person to submit an application for licensure of a biological product based on its similarity to a licensed biological product (the reference product). Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to license the biological product if it is biosimilar to or interchangeable with the reference product. Allows a determination of interchangeability if the product is: (1) biosimilar to the reference product and can be expected to produce the same clinical result in any given patient; and (2) the risk in terms of safety or diminished efficacy of alternating or switching between the products is not greater than the risk of using the reference product without [...]

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Latest Action: 06/04/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.

Bill Text
To amend title 35, United States Code, to limit damages and other remedies with respect to patents for tax planning methods.

5/17/2007--Introduced.

Prohibits a civil action and certain civil remedies against taxpayers or tax practitioners for infringement of a patent for tax planning methods.

Latest Action: 09/11/2007 - Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 348.

Bill Text
To amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for patent reform. 9/7/2007--Passed House amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Patent Reform Act of 2007 - Amends federal patent law to establish a first-inventor-to file system and to add or revise provisions governing patent review proceedings and patent infringement litigation.(Sec. 3) Adds and expands definitions relating to patents. Defines "inventor" as the individual or individuals collectively who invented or discovered the subject matter of the invention and "joint inventor" as any one of the individuals who invented or discovered the subject matter of an invention. Defines "effective filing date of a claimed invention" as the filing date of the patent or the application for patent containing the claim to the invention (thus establishing a first-inventor-to-file system).Revises the definition of "prior art" and conditions for patentability [...]

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Latest Action: 01/24/2008 - Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Leahy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-259. Additional and Minority views filed.

Bill Text
A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for patent reform. 1/24/2008--Reported to Senate amended.    (There is 1 other summary) Patent Reform Act of 2007 - (Sec. 2) Amends federal patent law to define terms, including "inventor," "joint inventor," and "effective filing date of a claimed invention." Modifies the conditions under which a patent may be obtained, including basing patent granting in part on filing dates (often referred to as a "first-to-file" system). Repeals provisions relating to inventions made abroad and provisions allowing statutory invention registration. Requires that a subsequent patent application which names an inventor or joint inventor in a previous application (currently, an application which is filed by an inventor or inventors named in a previous application) have the same effect as though filed on the date of the previous application. Repeals [...]

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Latest Action: 04/25/2007 - Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

Bill Text
Supporting the goals of World Intellectual Property Day, and for other purposes.

4/17/2007--Introduced.

Expresses support for: (1) the goals of World Intellectual Property Day to promote, inform, and teach the importance of intellectual property as a tool for economic, social, and cultural development; and (2) efforts to protect U.S. citizens from fraudulent and illegal counterfeiting and piracy.

Recognizes the importance of intellectual property and the challenges and threats to its protection.

Congratulates the World Intellectual Property Organization for building awareness of the value of intellectual property and developing the infrastructure to help citizens take full advantage of their creativity.

Applauds the contributions of human creativity and intellectual property to growth, innovation, and a brighter future.

Latest Action: 05/04/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property.

Bill Text
To prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market, and for other purposes. 4/17/2007--Introduced. Protecting Consumer Access to Generic Drugs Act of 2007 - Prohibits, as an unfair and deceptive act or practice and an unfair method of competition in or affecting interstate commerce, any person from being a party to any agreement resolving or settling a patent infringement claim in which: (1) an abbreviated new drug (generic) application filer receives anything of value; and (2) such filer agrees not to research, develop, manufacture, market or sell the generic drug. Excludes a resolution or settlement that includes no more than: (1) the right to market the generic drug before the expiration of the patent or other exclusivity period; or (2) the waiver of a patent infringement claim for damages. Authorizes the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to exempt agreements in furtherance of market competition [...]

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Latest Action: 04/11/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to market exclusivity for certain drugs, and for other purposes. 4/11/2007--Introduced. Lower Prices Reduced with Increased Competition and Efficient Development of Drugs Act or the Lower PRICED Drugs Act - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require an abbreviated application for a new drug containing certain antibiotics, the approved labeling for which includes a method of use that is claimed by a patent, to include a statement: (1) that identifies the relevant patent and the approved use covered by the patent; and (2) that the applicant is not seeking approval of such use. Requires the court to consider the totality of circumstances and the public interest in deciding whether to shorten the 30-month period that delays the approval of an abbreviated drug application when a patent infringement case is filed against the applicant. Limits market exclusivity provided for conducting [...]

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Latest Action: 05/10/2007 - Received in the House.

Bill Text
An act to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and cosmetic Act and the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize drug and device user fees and ensure the safety of medical products, and for other purposes. 5/9/2007--Passed Senate amended.    (There are 2 other summaries) Food and Drug Administration Revitalization Act - Title I: Prescription Drug User Fees - (Sec. 101) - Prescription Drug User Fee Amendments of 2007 - (Sec. 102) Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to set forth as a purpose that authorized prescription drug fees be dedicated toward expediting the drug development process, the process for the review of human drug applications, and postmarket drug safety. Sets forth reporting requirements, including requiring the Secretary of Human Services (the Secretary) to present to Congress recommendations developed for achieving certain goals for the review process of human drug applications and for reauthorization of user [...]

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Latest Action: 03/12/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Bill Text
To prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market. 3/9/2007--Introduced. Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act - Amends the Clayton Act to make it unlawful for a person, in connection with the sale of a drug product, to be a party to any agreement resolving or settling a patent infringement claim in which: (1) an abbreviated new drug (generic) application filer receives anything of value; and (2) such filer agrees not to research, develop, manufacture, market, or sell the generic product for any period. Excludes a resolution or settlement that includes no more than the right to market the generic product prior to the expiration of the patent. Amends the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 to set forth additional filing requirements related to agreements between a brand name drug company and a generic drug applicant. Requires the Chief Executive Officer [...]

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Latest Action: 02/27/2007 - Star Print ordered on S. 623.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the licensing of comparable and interchangeable biological products, and for other purposes. 2/15/2007--Introduced. Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a process for the approval of an abbreviated biological product application for products that contain the same or similar active ingredients as a previously licensed biological product (the reference product). Allows a person to file an abbreviated biological product application with the Secretary of Health and Human Services that includes: (1) data demonstrating that the product is comparable to or interchangeable with the reference product; (2) information to show that the conditions or conditions of use prescribed, recommended, or suggested in the labeling proposed for the biological product have been previously approved for the reference product; and (3) information to show that the route of administration, the [...]

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Latest Action: 02/15/2007 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Bill Text
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for the licensing of comparable and interchangeable biological products, and for other purposes. 2/14/2007--Introduced. Access to Life-Saving Medicine Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a process for the approval of an abbreviated biological product application for products that contain the same or similar active ingredients as a previously licensed biological product (the reference product). Allows a person to file an abbreviated biological product application with the Secretary of Health and Human Services that includes: (1) data demonstrating that the product is comparable to or interchangeable with the reference product; (2) information to show that the conditions or conditions of use prescribed, recommended, or suggested in the labeling proposed for the biological product have been previously approved for the reference product; and (3) information to show that the route of administration, the dosage [...]

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Latest Action: 02/12/2007 - Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1855-1857)

Bill Text
A bill to reduce the Federal budget deficit, and for other purposes. 2/12/2007--Introduced. Act for Our Kids - Repeals the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act. Amends the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996 to prohibit federal funding of television broadcasting to Cuba. Terminates the U.S. Court of Federal Claims. Requires federal agencies to reduce administrative expenses. Eliminates the Medicare Advantage Regional Plan Stabilization (SLUSH) Fund. Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit profiteering and fraud involving a contract or the provision of goods or services in connection with a war or military action. Requires: (1) suspension and debarment of unethical contractors; (2) disclosure by federal agencies, upon request, to the appropriate committee chairman or ranking member of audit reports regarding federal contractors; and (3) public access to information on federal contractor penalties and [...]

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Latest Action: 11/07/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary. Hearings held.

Bill Text
A bill to safeguard the economic health of the United States and the health and safety of the United States citizens by improving the management, coordination, and effectiveness of domestic and international intellectual property rights enforcement, and for other purposes. 2/7/2007--Introduced. Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Act - Amends the Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2000 to repeal provisions establishing the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordination Council.Establishes the Intellectual Property Enforcement Network (IPEN), consisting of specified representatives of various government agencies, to: (1) establish policies, objectives, and priorities concerning international intellectual property protection and law enforcement; (2) coordinate and facilitate implementation of such policies, objectives, and priorities; and (3) protect U.S. intellectual property rights overseas, including by creating an international task [...]

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Latest Action: 03/07/2007 - Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights. Hearings held.

Bill Text
A bill to prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market. 2/27/2007--Reported to Senate without amendment.    (There is 1 other summary) (This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.) Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act - Amends the Clayton Act to make it unlawful for a person, in connection with the sale of a drug product, to be a party to any agreement resolving or settling a patent infringement claim in which: (1) an abbreviated new drug (generic) application filer receives anything of value; and (2) such filer agrees not to research, develop, manufacture, market, or sell the generic product for any period. Excludes a resolution or settlement that includes no more than the right to market the generic product prior to the expiration of the patent. Amends the Medicare [...]

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Latest Action: 03/07/2007 - Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism. Hearings held.

Bill Text
A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to the importation of prescription drugs, and for other purposes. 1/10/2007--Introduced. Pharmaceutical Market Access and Drug Safety Act of 2007 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to revise provisions governing the importation of prescription drugs. Waives the limitation on importation of prescription drugs that have been exported from the United States. Prohibits the importation of a qualifying drug unless such drug is imported by: (1) a registered importer; or (2) an individual for personal use. Establishes registration conditions for importers and exporters. Requires the Secretary to inspect places of business, verify chains of custody, inspect facilities, and determine compliance with registration conditions. Sets forth provisions governing the importation of qualifying drugs that are different from U.S. label drugs, including standards for judging such differences.[...]

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Latest Action: 01/10/2007 - Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Bill Text