Patent Reform "Call to Action"

Letter Writing Campaign

With legislation as important as the Patent "Reform" Act S.515, it is imperative for concerned citizens to contact their Senators to state their concerns. California's Senators are Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.

Contact Information

Senator Barbara Boxer

Call the Senator: (202) 224-3553

Fax the Senator: Fax: (202) 224-0454

Contact via email:
https://boxer.senate.gov/contact/email/policy.cfm

Senator Dianne Feinstein

Call the Senator: (202) 224-3841

Fax the Senator: Fax: (202) 228-3954

Contact via email:
http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUS.EmailMe

Congressman Mike Honda

Call the Congressman: (202) 225-2631

Fax the Congressman: Fax: (202) 225-2699

Contact via email:
http://honda.house.gov/contactmike.shtml

For Other Congressional representation, please refer to:
http://www.usa.gov/Contact/Elected.shtml

Sample Letters

Here are some sample letters for your example and use. You are encouraged to personalize the letter to better explain your views.

• Letter for Senators Boxer and Feinstein 

• Letter for Non-California Senators

• Letter to House of Representatives

Additional Sample Letters to Government Officials

• 2010
  

• 2009

• 2008

• 2007

 Talking Points on Patent Reform

•  Legislation will weaken patents, which is bad for innovation.

• The opposition is large and diverse -- including inventors, teachers, universities, venture capitalists, unions, and small businesses.

• Damages provisions are unfair to innovators.
  Inventors rely on strong patents to protect their investments, and the proposed legislation does not adequately compensate inventors for the theft of their inventions.  Any legislation relating to determining a "reasonable royalty" should assure that all inventors can obtain adequate compensation for infringement of their patents.

• Harms Investment.
  Investment in technology requires strong patents to sustain a competitive edge.  This legislation devalues patents and discourages innovation and investment

• Ties up small inventors for years.
  The opposition provision could tie up small inventors for years, depriving them of the ability to protect their innovation or continue inventing.

• Harms Jobs
  Devalued patents leads to weakened business and encourages foreign penetration into the United States economy, which results in a loss of jobs.

• Harms Education
  Patents are important to universities.  Weakened patents lead to less income for universities.

• Fully fund the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO);

• Allow the USPTO to retain all of its user fees;

• Encourage the USPTO to invest in additional human and other resources; and

• Revise metrics for USPTO examiners' compensation to encourage and reward quality of examination, not quantity of applications reviewed.