legislating creativity

http://news.com.com/Legislating+creativity--feds+plan+patent+reform/
2009-1008_3-5860582.html?tag=alert

"…Congress is about to consider a controversial proposal from Rep.
Lamar Smith, a Texas Republican, that would grant a patent to the first
person to submit the paperwork –a standard that's common outside the
United States.

The legislation suddenly has become a flash point about everything
that's right with the U.S. patent system–and everything that's wrong
with it. Technology companies fighting expensive patent cases are
hoping the bill will reduce litigation, while open-source advocates say
it will do nothing to hinder the rising tide of software patents being
issued. Many people feel that the measure will make only modest
improvements, if any, to the quality of patents being awarded.

Smith's bill, called the Patent Reform Act of 2005, also has drawn the
ire of independent inventors, who have said it will unfairly hurt
anyone without a battalion of patent lawyers who can race to the Patent
and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Va."