FTC Report Recommends Improvements in Patent System to Promote Innovation and Benefit Consumers
"A new Federal Trade Commission report recommends improvements to two areas of patent law: policies affecting how well a patent gives notice to the public of what technology is protected and remedies for patent infringement. The report, The Evolving IP Marketplace: Aligning Patent Notice and Remedies with Competition, emphasizes that the patent system and competition policy share the goal of promoting innovation that benefits consumers.“When the patent system incorporates the principles of competition policy, the patent and antitrust laws work together to achieve their common goal. The recommended changes would benefit consumers by encouraging investments in innovation and promoting competition among patented technologies,” said FTC Commissioner Edith Ramirez.

The report continues the Commission’s policy engagement with the patent system that began with its 2003 report, To Promote Innovation: The Proper Balance of Competition and Patent Law and Policy by highlighting the role of courts and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in notice and remedies issues..